3000 Degrees: The True Story of a Deadly Fire and the Men Who Fought It

by Sean Flynn

On December 3, 1999, the call came in to the men of the Worcester, Massachusetts, Fire a five-alarm blaze in a six-story, abandoned, windlowless warehouse filled with lethal hallways and meat lockers.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Journalism, Audiobook, Biography, Fire Services, Firefighters

Paperback

First published March 29, 2002

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Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The funny thing about firemen is...night and day, they're always firemen."
-- Donald Sutherland, Backdraft.

3000 Degrees is the story six firemen who died in a Worcester warehouse fire on December 3, 1999. The warehouse was a big, brick, windowless monster with a labyrinthine interior that was hard to navigate in daytime, sans fire. When it became dark, filled with smoke and flame, it was a death maze. The fire started after a vagrant fight knocked over a candle. The fire feasted on the interior wooden frame of the building; air circulating in the elevator shaft turned the structure into a stove. The center of the building got really hot. How hot? If you guessed 3,000 degrees, you win the pony.

Six fire men, in three separate pairs, got lost and died in this worthless, abandoned building. This is their story.

The book is based on Sean Flynn's Esquire article called The Perfect Fire. I wasn't surprised to learn the title, because this book apes The Perfect Storm in just about every respect. Start with a smallish Boston town filled with blue collar folk and all their folksy traditions. Pick a hard, potentially lethal occupation. Find a bunch of men who died doing this occupation, but make sure you don't know how they died. Ingratiate yourself with the community and get the normally tight-lipped relatives to open up. Speculate about their loved ones deaths. Write a bestselling book. Sell the screenplay. (This book was optioned as a movie, but the Worcester folks, to their credit, wouldn't cooperate. I think they made Ladder 49 instead. Which proves that the people of Worcester are smarter than anyone is giving them credit for).

I know, that sounds really cynical. I'm sorry, but I'm just about tired of big-city journalists patronizing their subjects, and their readers, by feigning surprise that people who live outside big cities actually have active interior lives. You know, like hopes and dreams and stuff.

The book sets the reader up with quick biographies of the victims, as well as a few survivors. Their stories are profound for their utter ordinariness. These are normal people with normal, messy, sometimes ugly lives. This is all told in a brisk, journalistic style, with a lot of detail and even a little flare. Flynn is a very good writer, and he knows to make the fire a character:

"Mike washed the air above him, scattering hundreds of gallons of water into the void. But he wasn't getting wet. None of the water was splashing back down. He knew it was turning to steam, a mist that would eventually settle on him like a searing fog...For an instant, the flames receded. The bright orange disappeared in a shroud of black smoke, the air finally cooled enough not to burn...In one quick motion, Mike slammed the nozzle shut, twisted on his knees, and started crawling, his shins banging off the floor, his hands slapping along the hose line."

You learn about firefighters, their equipment, their tactics, their lives. After setting the stage, Flynn takes us to the fatal fire. Things start out all right, with everyone doing what they were supposed to do. But in a fire, it's only a single step from normal to tragedy. A pair of firefighters got lost, then another pair, and another. They tried to radio for help, but reception was spotty; they activated their PASS alarms, but the walls were too thick. Within half an hour, they would all be dead.

"They were already woozy from the carbon monoxide, maybe already crippled, their muscles paralyzed. A heavy concentration reduced a man to a paralytic stupor in five breaths, the CO bonding to the red blood cells, starving the body of oxygen. The brain, trying to save itself, would shut down the least important tissues, everything except itself, the heart and lungs."

The problem with the book is that the central event - the deaths of these firefighters, took place out of sight and within moments. That's why this story probably works better as an article - a good piece of long-form reporting. There's not enough story here to support a book. In order to pad out the length, Flynn takes us on a lot of digressions about the lives of these men. This is fine, in and of itself, for some of the digressions are interesting and illuminating. However, he structures these as flashbacks that are interspersed throughout the main narrative. Thus, we are continually being pulled from the central narrative. After awhile, it gets tiring trying to remember where you were in the actual story, which ultimately bleeds it of its emotional resonance.

The section of the book after the fire is oddly discrete, as Flynn bends over backwards not to invade anyone's privacy. There is no discussion of the remains, where they were found (save for a diagram at the start of the book), or what that might have meant. There is little critical analysis of command decisions or tactics. Not that criticism is called for, mind you, but just that there's no discussion at all. The fire was essentially chalked up as a "melancholy accident." Even OSHA had nothing to say, other than wishing the radios were better. OSHA always has something to say.

[Rebecca McPhedran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that, even when you know the ending, you’re hoping that it will turn out differently.

This is the story of the Worcester Cold Storage Fire, and the six firefighters who died in that fire. On a December night in 1999 six men went to fight a 4 alarm fire, and never made it home. This book was written in such a way that I had a huge sense of foreboding. The confusion on scene was almost palpable. I really enjoyed this tribute to these men and their choice to run towards something that everyone else runs from.

[Jordan Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to find this book on audio cassette back in 2002 and after listening to it numerous times since then, it’s still my favorite audiobook! “3000 Degrees: The True Story of a Deadly Fire and the Men who Fought It” is a gripping and engaging work of real-life literature that chronicles the lives of the firefighters, community, and the families impacted by the tragic events of December 3rd 1999 in Worcester, Massachusetts. In what can only be described as the modern day firefighting equivalent of “The Perfect Storm,” a small fire ignites in the bowels of a mammoth abandoned warehouse, the infamous “Worcester Cold Storage,” encompassing a confusing labyrinth of confined passages, windowless rooms, human waste and clutter; what begins as a smoldering rubbish fire in a reinforced brick and mortar building sparked by two homeless squatters, evolves into a malevolent and murderous blaze. It triggers a Four Alarm response from the gallant fire chiefs and firefighters of the Worcester Fire Department and seals the fate of six brave veteran firefighters in an attempt to combat the inferno and locate two of their missing brothers.

In the hours and days that followed, a small New England town would be rocked to the core and thrust into the media spotlight capturing the entire Nation’s attention and that of the world in an overwhelming display of grief and rage at the loss of six ordinary men who lived extraordinary lives and accomplished noble deeds in the line of duty. This incident would radically alter the realm of big city firefighting and be forever seared into the annals of history as a profound reminder of what can happen when things go horribly wrong on the fireground. When a menacing blaze has the overall tactical advantage and controls the battlespace, it can test the very limits of man and machine literally to the breaking point. “3000 Degrees: The True Story of a Deadly Fire and the Men who Fought It” is more than just the harrowing exploits of firefighters; it’s also about the people and the community that they share, encompassing poignant emotions and characteristics of not just the fallen Worcester 6, but also the families and those they served alongside leading up to their last alarm at Worcester Cold Storage.

Journalist Sean Flynn does an exceptional job chronicling Worcester’s Bravest as well as the mechanics and the mindset of urban firefighting. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to run into a burning building and risk your life for a complete stranger or a fellow brother-in-arms when everyone else is trying to get out, than “3000 Degrees: The True Story of a Deadly Fire and the Men who Fought It” is a must-have book for any seasoned veteran firefighter or civilian interested in the fire service. This would make a great movie! Even though Ladder 49 and The Perfect Storm were awesome, a film about the Worcester Cold Storage inferno and those who fought it would be amazing to watch because that’s what it feels like when you’re listening to it or reading it.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of remember when this fire happened. I remember seeing the news report and thinking of how horrible it was for the families of the firefighters. This book brought it a bit closer to home, with some of the backgrounds on those who were injured and died in the blaze. I learned quite a bit about how the fire started and the danger the "unoccupied" building held for rescuers. The book was very short but had quite a bit of information in it. I can't say it was enjoyable due to the subject but it was intriguing.

[Eric_W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean Flynn writes for Esquire and this is based partially on an article he wrote about the terrible fires suffered by Worcester, Massachusetts. The town has lost much of its industrial base and there were many abandoned buildings that were worth more from insurance claims than as empty buildings. It was not uncommon for engine companies to be called out to fires three to five times per night. Sometimes, the fire might be a prelude to the big one, a small fire just enough to set off the sprinkler system, which then would be inactivated until the mechanisms could be replaced. The arsonist would then return to set a fire that would be unchecked by sprinklers, and the firemen would return to the same building several hours later to find a massive fire engulfing the building.

On December 3, 1999, an inferno erupted in the Worcester Cold Storage, ignited by the candles of two vagrants. It was a windowless warehouse just waiting to explode. The building was a labyrinth of segregated rooms, making it hard for the men to communicate and difficult to ventilate, making backdrafts (superheated air at the ceiling ignites smoke particles and gases causing sudden intense heat of thousands of degrees) more likely. Built before refrigeration, when massive amounts of insulating material were required to keep ice cold, the walls were filled with cork, and later polystyrene (made from petroleum) was added. Inside was a jumble of hallways, each having a door that was intended to close tightly after one passed through, in order to keep the cold in. The layers of cork and polystyrene insulation burned vigorously, giving off toxic fumes and intense heat.

The structure became a fireman's nightmare. The vagrants, who set the fire accidentally, left the building and didn’t report it, so by the time firemen arrived several hours later, the building was well engulfed on the inside. Reports that some homeless people lived in the building made the job of surveying the inside much more urgent. Rescue units got lost in the darkness and became trapped. Each fireman, breathing at a normal rate, had only thirty minutes of air in the cylinder on his back; only fifteen minutes if under stress or working hard.

As a civilian listening to the book, I could not help but wonder why they were limited to such a short time. Apparently, it's deliberate because they don't want firemen to be exposed to the in tense heat for more than 20-30 minutes without going outside for relief. The special bunker clothes they wear keep them from burning, but they trap heat, and when firemen sweat, it sometimes becomes so hot inside their clothes that the sweat turns to steam! The environment of that fire was so hot that water from a 2.5 inch hose would flash to steam when it hit. Their radios would have been more helpful had they been channeled. The firemen were constantly speaking over the top of one another, and the microphones had a dangerous tendency to short out when they inevitably got wet.

Six firemen were killed. Two men searching the building got lost and couldn't find their way out. Indeed, firemen say that's the problem with Hollywood fire movies. They always show a brightly burning area well-lit with orange flames. In reality, the screen should be totally black, because the smoke can be so intense they can't see anything and spend most of the time crawling on the floor (where it's much cooler anyway). Four more men died trying to find the first two. They also became lost and could not be found.

Finally, after a personal attempt to get up the stairs, the chief ordered all the men out of the building, despite their futile attempts to rush back in to find the trapped men. They had to resort to an exterior, defensive attack, just throwing more "wet stuff on the red stuff," something my civilian mind thinks they should have done right from the beginning. The building was abandoned anyway. The article this book was based on appeared in Esquire entitled “The Perfect Fire.” It’s definitely a worthy complement to The Perfect Storm, another tragic but wonderfully evocative book.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sad book about heroes and not just the hero firefighters but the heroes left behind. It is so well written that you feel the emotions of all involved. Wish I could give this more than five stars. Synopsis In the fading industrial city of Worcester, Massachusetts, there are men whose jobs are to brave danger, endure long shifts, and trust other men with their lives. Like their counterparts in cities and small towns everywhere, they are firefighters, and like firefighters everywhere, they take enormous pride in their brotherhood and their calling. On December 3, 1999, as the men of Central Street and other Worcester stations lived their daily lives, worked second jobs, and raised their children, they did not know an inferno unlike anything they had ever seen was about to put them to the ultimate test. The fire at Worcester Cold Storage was ignited by two vagrants' Christmas candle. When the first firefighters arrived on the scene, the building-a hulking, abandoned, windowless warehouse-was waiting to explode. As men fought to contain the flames with hoses, they were suddenly surrounded by confusing, suffocating darkness and searing steam. Worcester Cold Storage-with its maze like layout and rooms so insulated that they prevented men from hearing each other's alarms-was turning into a furious beast, disorienting those inside it, seemingly determined to kill as many men as it could. 3000 Degrees stands with the best works of American reportage. Sean Flynn takes us into the private lives of men heading inexorably into one sudden shared, overwhelming battle. He captures the agony of working wives and mothers hearing the news with mounting terror and a community being hurtled toward unbearable loss. Most of all, he vividly depicts the moments of truth, when ordinary men know that their brothers are going to die, and that to live with themselves, to take another single breath, they too must be prepared to lay down their lives.

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the Worcester Cold Storage fire in December 1999 - the author actually wrote an article about it for a magazine and later expanded it into this book. This fire took the lives of 6 firemen - 2 who were searching for possible victims and got lost/trapped in the building, and 4 more who went after them. This building was a deathtrap, the perfect fire box - insulated to hold in the heat, chemicals treating the walls, and lots of walls and false turns to confuse even the most seasoned firefighter. The author treats the men - both those who survived and those who died - and their families with respect. I did look up some more about this fire - I remembered it and the mourning that followed - and found out that a new firestation has been built on the site of the warehouse and that there is a memorial to the fallen six men. This was a touching story that has been overshadowed by the actions of the first responders on 9/11.

[Marcus Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and deep book. Gives incredible detail and background of all the fire fighters and the families of the lost ones. Tells the story of the fire with immense detail and doesn't miss a single portion of the story. Really toches the heart and has the reader feel like they are at the scene. Amazingly well written and a great read for anyone.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I would have been way more emotional reading this book. perhaps it was because I didn't have time to get attached to the characters before they died. i always find it hard to keep track of a ton of people when they're all introduced at once. I cried once at the end from Denise being at the warehouse when they found Paul. good book

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping story of one of the deadliest fires for firefighters in recent history. The author treats the story and men and women involved with respect and delicacy without glossing over either the tragedy or the rough nature of the firefighters. Chief McNamee sets a strong, heart wrenching example of what true leadership looks like.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hurt, I know John Sullivan from Engine 3 and could feel his anguish when he came out of the building and was looking for his 2 lost firefighters.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a lifelong resident of Massachusetts and I still recall the tragic loss of six firefighters in that warehouse fire 25 years ago. It was a terrible event that dominated the national and local news for weeks after the fire. Like most other people who had no personal connection to the fire or firefighting in general, I stopped thinking about it. But about three years ago, one of my sons was sworn in as a firefighter in another mill town in Massachusetts. My son participated in the tribute to the lost heroes that occurred on the 25th anniversary of the fire. I saw this book at my local library used book store several days ago and picked it up for my son. I decided that I needed to read it before handing it to him. I would suspect that this book would be a very difficult read for anyone, but as the father of a firefighter, I read it in only a couple of sittings as it was an ordeal to get through. It certainly has the ring of authenticity as Flynn describes the culture of a firehouse, with the tough love camaraderie of firefighters with different personalities and backgrounds: guys from firefighting families, combat veterans, men who moonlight as carpenters and plumbers on their days off. But once the narrative reached the evening of the fire, I was in foreign territory as he describes the awful chain events that led to the catastrophe that swept up the Worcester Fire Department and all the families affected by it. I read at least one reviewer who was appalled by what he/she saw as the exploitation of the tragedy, but I came away with the feeling that Flynn sincerely captured the heroism of the men who fought that fire and the unspeakable loss suffered by the families and comrades of the lost firefighters. Not an easy read, but I'm glad that I read it and hope with all my heart that my wife and other son and I never have to go through what those people endured.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of the fire in Worchester, Massachusetts in an abandoned cold storage warehouse. Due to the large types and amounts of the fire load - things that could burn, the fire burned extremely hot endangering the lives of the firefighters. The fire department had been notified that there might be residents in the building so a search had been underway. The building was a maze of corridors, walls, and dead ends that made it extremely difficult to locate where the residents might be. Then large amounts of debris was falling from the ceilings and roof so the search and suppression efforts had to be stopped. At that point, the fire department knew that there were six missing firefighters but nobody knew where they were and the conditions of the structure made it too dangerous for the firefighters to go back in to locate the missing men.

The story was well put together. The author developed each individual man with detail of each person and it was almost like I knew them personally. I was horrified, laughing, sad, hopeful but I already knew the outcome.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely wonderful read. It is an account of the true story of a 1999 fire in Massachusetts that killed six firefighters. It chronicles the firefighters’ lives and families. It documents the fire and all the events surrounding it. It details of the recovery of the bodies. it describes in wonderful heart-wrenching detail the relationship of all the firefighters, crews, the brotherhood, and the grief they all experience because of the tragedy. It is not a story that seems to be embellished, but there is lots of descriptive detail, and I am sure the author did a ton of research and interviews to write this book. I also learned a fair amount about firefighting and firefighters from this book. In the beginning of the book, it was a little hard to keep all of the character straight, so I ended up writing a list, but you end up getting to know each of the people they talk about and after a bit it’s not too hard to keep them straight. I would definitely recommend this book to someone else to read. What an awesome find.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Worcester Cold Storage building was revered in Worcester, Massachusetts by firefighters as "I sure hope I'm not around if that building goes up." On December 3 1999, the building caught fire when two homeless people let a candle fire get out of hand. Worse, they didn't immediately report the fire allowing it to spread unchecked for some time. The building took multiple teams most of the night to put out, and by the time the fire was out, there were six firefighters missing and presumed dead. This is their story.

The author did a pretty good job at introducing all of the firefighters without making it either boring or dry. The pacing was very fast; it was like I opened the book and started reading and then all of a sudden I'm 100 pages into the story. It is a very sad story because 6 firefighters died but it is very well written and written very respectfully without being sensationalistic I think.

[Stuart Bobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters of this are so intense you can't put the book down. But there are also some "flashbacks" that confused me as to whether the events being described were current or something in the characters past. The story is certainly about a tremendous fire, but it is also a great deal of discussion of the personal history and background of all the men who died along with their families.

I think the author did a great job of helping me to understand what it means to fight a dangerous structure fire and the risks that these people take. I was less engaged with the personal histories - it seemed more the stuff of a wake or a human interest article in the newspaper.

I would have liked to learn more about why the fire behaved the way it did and what changes came about in fighting fire because of it. I was left with limited insight on those points.

[Kelsey Michalsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does start off super slow and it’s hard to stay engaged for me.
That being said. I’m not huge on non-fiction. Flynn did a great job telling the stories of these men not only as firefighters, but as the men they were outside of the calling. One thing that did make it hard to follow is there was SO many names in there, and they weren’t consistently called the same name each time. I found myself having to backtrack saying “ok who was that again?” But then again, that’s how many people there were… so…
Great professional reading. I really did enjoy it in the end. Once we actually got to the warehouse and the true fire (quite a few chapters in… maybe halfway through the book) it finally became a book I didn’t want to put down.
We all know this story, but it’s humbling and amazing to get the raw emotion from it.
Thank you for telling the story of the Worcester 6 Flynn ❤️

[Marina Morgera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Obviously anyone who knows the story of Worcester 6 knows what’s going to happen in the end, although reading this whole book you just want it to be not true. I think this book hits home different when you are a firefighter and for me specifically being a firefighter and dating a firefighter you understand all points of view from the men on the line with them but also from the wives at home seeing the fire on the news. This story was written perfectly.
Something that always gets me is listening to the men who were not on duty that day and working OT or a swap who ended up dying. Or the man who it was his last day on the trucks before stepping into an office fire job. Really shows you that every decision and every moment matters. RIP W6. 🎧

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Sean Flynn's writing in this book. It balanced both the emotions in the moment and looking back on the disaster. He also struck a balance between the moment and the legacy. The way he wrote about the people in this story also brought a very somber tone to the book. It's sometimes difficult for readers to connect with people in a historical book, but that was not the case here. Uncertain if the publishers did it for all of the versions or just the one I got, but it was also very nice to have some pictures of the firefighters and their families in the book at certain points.

[Debra M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written!!

This book started out with a little snippet about the fire and then moved into information about each of the firefighters lives. You were able to get to know them a bit and the town. Then the call came in... The writer was able to describe everything in such detail including emotions that it was just like you were there and part of the scene. When the guys went missing, I felt the grief of the people/firefighters who were there. Anyone interested in firefighting in the real world would be interested in this book.

[John Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe how long ago this fire was ... I remember it quite well.

This book is very well-written. I didn't want to take a break from it. From my knowledge of firefighting, the author did a great job of describing being in a fire, and explaining fire science in an approachable manner.

Recommended for anyone in the fire service or everyday heroes, or for anyone who wants a well-written historical narrative.

[Joe Linehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad story but respectfully written. I am waiting on m’y sweet baby to bring me a coffee to work since she loves me so much. Tomorrow we are going to see that New Leo movie with Martin S as the director (I can’t spell his last name and feel no need to look it up). I know if gonna eat too much popcorn and candy is I’ll have a tummy ache. I hope that is resolved before we go to Bertuccis for dinner. I can’t wait to eat those rolls.
Talkin ink.

[Dan May · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of brave men, great loss, and the family they left behind

Eloquently chronicles the story of heroism and loss on a night when six firefighters died from a single blaze. Dives deep into their backstories, their lives spouses, and the aftermath. Of the disaster. Paints a vivid picture of what firefighters face ever day fighting fires and helps one understand why they find a the job so compelling. Takes a bit of time to get going, but well worth reading.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about how a fire started and how several lives were lost in the attempt to put it out. Focuses more on the emotional parts of the story. Contains a recounting of an attempted sexual assault, some ableist language concerning the target of said assault, and not-too-graphic descriptions of the recovery of the firefighters' bodies.

[Tim Ouellette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important reading

I just became a volunteer fire-fighter and this book was recommended to me by a neighboring full time chief. The book outlined, in dramatic fashion, the story of the six who perished and the fire-fighters who fought alongside them in the smoke and dark. Very well written.

[Eric Yunginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent telling and review of a tragic abandoned warehouse fire that claimed 6 firefighters, from interviews with the men involved. Great read, and really lets you get into the lives of the men lost, what led them to the fire service, and the actions they took that night. I'm recommending it to all the guys on my department.

[Cameron L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was an amazing book, pasted on the tragic events of W6( The Worcester Cold Storage Fire). This was a tragic event in Massachusetts, and its a good thing that there is a book about the events that took place on December 3, 1999.

[Patrick Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragically Fascinating

This tragedy was awful. Gripped a nation of firefighters. Inspired their sons years later to join the department. This book makes you feel like you were a part of them. Part of the department.

[Jennifer Dawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this for the most part. It was tough to listen to some of it due to the nature of it. I also suffered hearing the word “fireman” so much! For the record firemen stiles the coals on trains … firefighters fight fires 🤓

[Jesse Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Added to my list of mandatory reading for any firefighter. A fire can turn in the blink of an eye and become deadly. This book proudly honored the 6 heroic Worcester FFs that gave their lives on December 3, 1999. Worcester 6, Never Forgotten.