Two bodies have been recovered from the warehouse fire

December 8, 1999
Web posted at: 8:04 a.m. EST (1304 GMT)

WORCESTER, Massachusetts (CNN) -- A second body has been recovered from the warehouse where a weekend fire killed six firefighters, a spokesman for the Worcester fire department said.

The body, discovered about 11 p.m. Tuesday, has not been identified but is believed to be one of the six firemen.

The body was removed from the scene early Wednesday and taken to the medical examiner's office. The body of firefighter Timothy Jackson was found over the weekend.

Department spokesman James Callery said a firefighter's ax has been found in another area of the burned building.

MESSAGE BOARD In the line of duty     Killed in the line of duty   • In 1994, 14 firefighters perished in a forest fire in Colorado.   • In 1978, six New York City firefighters died in a supermarket fire.   • Every year, an average of 100 U.S. firefighters die on the job.

Crews are still searching for the remains of the other firefighters. The deaths of the firemen left 17 children fatherless.

President Clinton is expected to attend a memorial service Thursday in Worcester, joined by thousands of firefighters from around the nation.

On Tuesday, a homeless couple was charged in the deaths of the six firefighters.

The warehouse blaze was started by a candle the couple allegedly knocked over during a quarrel, investigators said.

The first two firefighters went into the burning brick building to rescue them, but the couple had already escaped after trying unsuccessfully to save their dog and cat.

Levesque and Barnes

Thomas S. Levesque, 37, and Julie S. Barnes, 19, pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in Worcester Central District Court on six counts of involuntary manslaughter.

They were ordered held under $1 million bail pending another court appearance December 14. They have requested separate attorneys.

For several months, the couple had been living together on the second floor of the abandoned warehouse, said District Attorney John J. Conte.

He said their quarrel resulted in the candle being knocked over and igniting clothes and papers.

The couple tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the blaze, Conte said.

"They made no attempt to report the fire," he said. The two spent the night at a friend's house.

Two firefighters entered the building after hearing reports the homeless pair may have been trapped inside.

Four more firefighters, using safety lines, then went into the building to try to save their comrades, but also were killed.

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