A veteran Boston firefighter died Saturday night after falling from the third floor of a burning triple-decker home during a three-alarm fire in Dorchester.
The Boston Fire Department identified the deceased as 53-year-old Robert "Bobby" T. Kilduff Jr. of Rescue Company 2.
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He was pronounced dead at Boston Medical Center.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at 18 Treadway Road around 8:15 p. m.
Heavy flames engulfed all three floors before being contained.
A mayday call was issued around 8:50 p. m.
when Kilduff fell from a third-story window. All five residents of the home escaped safely.
Kilduff was a 24-year veteran of the department, a U. S.
Marine veteran, and a third-generation firefighter. Earlier Saturday, he had saved a person's life during a technical rescue involving a train.
A month prior, he performed CPR to save a fellow firefighter experiencing cardiac arrest.
Department Mourns Loss
Boston Fire Commissioner Rodney Marshall announced the death during an early Sunday morning press conference outside the hospital.
"Every day we put on this uniform, we know in the back of our minds that something like this is a possibility, but to actually have it happen to someone that you work with and actually know is something that you can't put into words," Marshall said.
Marshall emphasized the unpredictable dangers of the profession and stated that Kilduff would receive the highest honors the city and department can bestow.
"We're not safe until we actually get home," he said.
Marshall noted that Kilduff was widely regarded as a dedicated colleague.
"Bobby was known throughout the department as one of those guys that you can go to for anything," he said.
The loss will impact the department heavily for an extended period. "It's going to stick with us for a long time," Marshall said.
He reiterated that no emergency response can be treated as commonplace. "There's no routine fire, there's no routine call," he said.
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Marshall concluded by noting that first responders serve selflessly with the expectation of returning home, though that outcome is never guaranteed.
Union and City Leaders Express Grief
Boston Firefighters Union Local 718 President Sam Dillon expressed grief over the loss.
"Local 718 lost one of our best city of Boston - lost one of our most courageous and dedicated firefighters," Dillon said.
Dillon urged the community to support Kilduff's surviving family, which includes his wife and two adult children.
"We ask the entire city to stand with us, stand with the Kilduff family in memory of Bobby, who laid down his life for this city and for his brother and sister firefighters tonight," he said.
Mayor Michelle Wu extended condolences during the conference, highlighting Kilduff's deep ancestral roots within the fire service.
"On behalf of the City of Boston, I wanted to extend the deepest condolences to the Kilduff family, to all of Bobby's loved ones," Wu said.
Wu praised the responding crews for ensuring no civilian casualties.
"Because of his actions tonight, working alongside his fellow firefighters, every single resident came out of the flames safe and sound," she said.
The mayor requested public support and prayers for the grieving department and family.
"This is a family that has given everything for our country and for our city," Wu said.
The Boston Fire Department shared a public memorial message on social media following confirmation of his passing.
"May he rest in peace and always be remembered," the department said.
Kilduff had previously spoken to the Boston Globe in 2014 about protocols for honoring fallen firefighters.
"It's a show of respect for the family, and it's a tribute from us as firefighters," he said at the time.
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The investigation into the cause of the three-alarm fire remains ongoing.
