By Hillary Chabot
Sentinel & Enterprise
BOSTON — Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin Roy remembers when the city provided $5,000 for firefighter John Cetrino’s funeral.
An explosive backdraft from a fire on Water Street in 1977 killed Cetrino and injured seven other Fitchburg firefighters.
The cost of funerals has increased dramatically since then, Roy said, which is why he believes Gov. Deval Patrick made the right move by signing a bill Thursday to provide up to $15,000 for funerals of firefighters killed in the line of duty.
“Obviously, you can’t fund a funeral for $5,000 anymore. When you talk about the size of many firefighters’ funerals you wonder if $15,000 is going to cover it,” Roy said.
The average cost of a funeral in the United States is roughly $6,500, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Those prices can often skyrocket for firefighters as thousands of their brethren from around the country attend the service and calling hours are extended.
Cities and towns would pay for the funeral costs according to the law, which was triggered after two West Roxbury firefighters died in a restaurant blaze last week.
Fitchburg sent a delegation to the funeral for West Roxbury firefighter Paul Cahill Thursday, and plan on sending a delegation to the funeral for Warren Payne today.
State Rep. Stephen DiNatale, D-Fitchburg, said it’s important to come through for families of firefighters, especially since the public safety workers put their lives on the line every day to protect citizens.
“I think with anybody killed in the line of duty, the community owes those folks,” DiNatale said.
In addition to the municipal funding, families of firefighters killed in the line of duty also receive a $100,000 death benefit from the state retirement board and nearly $300,000 in federal funds.
Copyright 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Mid-States Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved