In a searing flash of flames and molten metal, 11 firefighters who battled an industrial blaze suffered burns so severe that some were left horribly disfigured and in need of medical care more than two years later.
"It was like being in hell," several of the injured men told their colleagues."It reminded me of a war movie," said Joseph Daniele, who was the fire chief at the time. "It was a horrific sight."
None of the injured firefighters has returned to work. Instead, they are at home trying to reclaim their lives and get compensation from the company that they contend negligently put them at risk.
Currently on disability leave, many of the firefighters are struggling with flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia and depression, said Dr. John Greene, the psychologist who meets weekly with all but one of the men.
"What happened to these people and their families is they went to work one night," Greene said. "Now all of a sudden, they're banged up, they're injured and they're not firefighters anymore."
On Oct. 25, 1993, the firefighters responded to a call about an explosion at H.C. Starck Inc., a company that makes the tantulum metal used in electrical components.
The firefighters knew the building contained drums of metallic sodium - a chemical that reacts violently with water. What they didn't know was that Starck employees had washed equipment in the same room earlier that day.
Only minutes after firefighters entered the building, a second explosion, this one even bigger, spewed flames and molten metal onto the closest firefighters.
Those who had been hit ran from the room, ripping off their clothes and leaving a trail of burned hats, gas masks, coats and equipment. They ranged in age from mid-20s to early 50s. Eight of them were married with children.
For weeks, the 200-member department kept a vigil, praying that their 11 "brothers" would pull through.
Lt. Raymond McNamara was the most severely injured.
McNamara, now 54, was standing next to the chemical drum when it exploded and sustained burns over 90 percent of his body.
He lost much of his vision and hearing and slipped in and out of a coma for nearly a year. Though still in constant pain, McNamara, a popular 25-year veteran fondly referred to as "Mac," survived.
He amassed $1.25 million in medical bills, which were picked up by the city of Newton.
Many of the firefighters still need medical care, including regular skin grafts. Several were severely disfigured.
The injured men won't talk to reporters while litigation is pending. Starck officials and their lawyers also won't discuss the case.
In January, Starck pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the explosion, agreeing to pay a record state fine of $1.37 million after an investigation found serious environmental neglect at the plant.
While Starck has contributed a total of $300,000 to a firefighters academy and burn unit, the injured firefighters haven't received a penny, said lawyer Neil Sugarman, who represents 10 of the 11 men.
The firefighters' lawsuit seeking damages from Starck is pending, and probably won't come to trial for at least a year, Sugarman said.
Meanwhile, the department's firefighters still struggle with memories of the explosion.
"There's barely a day that goes by that we're not discussing the event," Newton Fire Chief Edward Murphy said.