WARREN - Straight-shooter, frank, honest, dedicated, reliable, community-minded and kind. No one this week had the least bit of trouble finding adjectives to describe the late Richard O'Brien, a 40-year veteran of the Warren Fire Department. But of all the descriptions the word, "generous," was, by far, voiced most.

Joe Bourquin, former member of Mechanics Fire Company, Engine #2, said in the nine years he served at the station with Mr. O'Brien, he was without a car many times. Whenever Mr. Bourquin found himself "wheel-less," Mr. O'Brien was right there, handing over the keys to a vehicle he owned.

He was magnanimous to a fault, said Mr. Bourquin.

Warren volunteer firefighter Richard O'Brien, a 40-year veteran of the department, died last Friday after collapsing at a fire on Water Street.

"He'd give you the shirt off his back, the truck out of his yard."

Last Friday, shortly after 10 p.m., the 63-year-old family man, former town council president, firefighter, bakemaster and friend to many, gave his life when he responded to a small, smoky stove fire at a three-story Water Street home.

He was the first Warren firefighter to lose his life in the line of duty in 25 years.

Within minutes of arriving at the smoke-filled, third floor apartment of the house at 67 Water St., a property, coincidentally, he owned, Mr. O'Brien crumpled into the arms of fellow firefighters who had responded to the fire as well. Within 12 minutes of his collapse, Mr. O'Brien was carried by colleagues to Rescue 1 and rushed to Rhode Island Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Mr. O'Brien's death, attributed to heart failure, stung townspeople over the weekend, many who had been at the receiving end, at one time or another, of his largesse. His was a familiar face, as was his purposeful stride, strong convictions, zest for life and warm heart.

His death hit the Warren Fire Department especially hard.

Firefighters mourn

"He was a gentle giant of a man," said Narragansett Fire Company, Engine #3, Captain Vincent Calenda who was at the scene Friday night.

He hasn't slept well since.

"I was face to face with him when he collapsed. His son, Pat, was to his immediate left. We immediately called a Mayday."

Life-saving procedures were administered at once.

Although he said he knows there was not much more that he or anyone else could do, he can't stop going over the chain of events in his mind, said Mr. Calenda.

The call came in at 9:44 p.m., he said. First responders were Engines #1 and #2, the latter housed about a block away from the fire, and the Ladder Truck. But it was only a minute or two before Engine #3 and Special Hazards arrived.

Mr. Calenda said when he entered the apartment, Mr. O'Brien had already arrived. Also in the apartment were Deputy Fire Chief Norman Blank, a member of Engine #3, Mr. O'Brien's son, Patrick, captain of Engine #2 for the past 10 years and a federal firefighter at the U.S. Navy Base in Groton, Conn., Robert Miner, assistant chief of Engine #2, Joe Costa of Engine #3, and Paul Lopes of Engine #1. Except for himself, Mr. Calenda said the other five men were all EMTs.

After Mr. O'Brien was stricken, they carried him with some difficulty down the narrow staircase to the second floor landing, and from there through the second floor apartment then down the main staircase to the waiting rescue. He was accompanied to the hospital by Rescue Captain Steve Asselin, Paul Lopes and George Avila, said Mr. Calenda. Janet O'Brien, Mr. O'Brien's wife of 35 years, rode up front.

About 30 minutes later, firefighters who remained at the scene to investigate the cause of the small blaze and clean up, or who had driven back to their respective stations to await word on Mr. O'Brien's condition, received the devastating news.

"It seemed like an eternity," said Mr. Calenda. "The mood was very somber, very, very quiet. Everyone knew what had happened."

Flags at the fire stations throughout town were immediately lowered to half staff. Mr. Blank called a critical stress management team to counsel firefighters, especially those who were at the scene and members of Mr. O'Brien's company, the Mechanics.

All seemed well

Absent that night was Warren Fire Chief Al Galinelli who chose last weekend for a rare trip out of state to visit a cousin.

"My daughter Amy called. She said something wasn't right at a fire they just had. There was a lot of back and forth chatter," said the chief.

Chief Galinelli called the police/fire dispatcher in town who told him a firefighter was down and that it was Mr. O'Brien. At 11:30 p.m., the deputy chief phoned him with the grim news. Chief Galinelli, who was in Pennsylvania, returned to town early Saturday morning. Later in the day he held a press conference, breaking down on camera as he glanced at the photo of Mr. O'Brien he held in his hand.

Mr. Calenda said he and several other men, mostly firefighters, had spent Thursday with Mr. O'Brien, putting on a clambake commissioned by a retired military group at the Bristol Yacht Club

"He was fine. All he kept talking about was the beautiful kitchen. He couldn't get over it, he loved it," Mr. Calenda recalled.

Mr. O'Brien also appeared hale hours before his death. In fact, just before the fire call came in, he had finished a swim in this backyard pool and was sitting inside his home, said Mr. O'Brien's son. When the call came in, he drove his truck to the Mechanics Station down the street and, when he discovered the engine already had a driver, walked to the fire.

Ironically, the man who prepared clambakes for many fire companies, organizations and groups was planning to host the annual O'Brien family clambake at his home on Sunday.

A somber time

On Monday, the mood at the fire stations around town remained one of sadness and disbelief over the loss of the well-respected fire department veteran. Makeshift memorials had been set up and bay doorways draped in black.

His heart heavy, Deputy Chief Norman Blank, who had known Mr. O'Brien for well over 20 years, said the town had truly been blessed by the presence of Mr. O'Brien throughout his lifetime.

"He would help any organization in this town. There isn't an organization he hasn't helped," he said.

At Engine #2, Mr. Bourquin reflected on his relationship with Mr. O'Brien.

"When I came here I was 19, I lived in Somerset," he said. "The station was great. The O'Briens, they love everybody, they take care of everybody. They welcomed me to their home. Mr. O'Brien taught me about firefighting he taught me about clambakes. He taught me to be nice, to always say what I mean."

On Saturday, as the word spread, folks starting dropping by Mechanics Station, he said. Food delivered courtesy of the Tinker's Nest, Bristol Rescue and neighborhood folks filled the station's refrigerators to overflowing. Since then, many people have stopped by to offer their condolences and motorists have slowed down by the station and beeped their horns in tribute.

One of the people hardest hit by Mr. O'Brien's death was Central Fire Company, Engine #1, Captain John Jannitto who is expected to deliver the eulogy at Mr. O'Briens funeral on Thursday. The two men were lifelong friends.

Theirs was a shared friendship that transcended the years and, at one time, even politics, he said.

"Richard, he is a perfect example to me of a true, true friend. This is a tremendous loss. There are people who don't have real friends. They can't understand it," Mr. Jannitto said.

Salute to a fallen firefighter

Warren Fire Chief Al Galinelli said he expects most Warren volunteer firefighters and rescue workers — approximately 250 — and more than 500 firefighters from out of town and state to attend Mr. O'Brien's funeral this Thursday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 500 Metacom Ave., and the internment service at St. Mary of the Bay Cemetery on Vernon Street that follows. He said he also expects most members of the department to pay their respects at 7 p.m. during calling hours which are on Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 8 p.m., at William J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 15 Church St.

* Wednesday, Sept. 15 — 6:30 p.m. — Warren and out-of-town firefighters/rescue workers will convene at Central Fire Headquarters on Railroad Avenue, then march in a body south on Main Street to the William J. Smith & Son Funeral Home on Church Street to pay their respects during calling hours.

* Thursday, Sept. 16 — All fire departments, Warren and out-of-town, will muster in front of the Mechanics Fire Station on Water Street at approximately 9 a.m. From there, the men and women will march north on Water to Main Street, south on Main to Franklin Street, then east on Franklin Street to St. Thomas the Apostle Church for the funeral Mass. Warren fire apparatus will also be included in the procession to the church. Following the service, the procession will proceed west on Franklin Street to St. Mary of the Bay Cemetery on Greenlawn Avenue.

* After the burial service, refreshments will be served at Mechanics Fire Station.

Parking restrictions

Warren Police Chief Thomas D. Gordon has issued the following parking restrictions for Thursday, Sept. 16.

* From 9 a.m. to noon there will be no parking at all on Church Street and no parking on Water Street from Church Street north to the junction at Main Street.

Line of duty deaths

In its 202 year existence, only four members of the Warren Fire Department are known to have died in the line of duty, or as a result of fighting a fire.

They are:

* April 3, 1968 — Assistant Fire Chief Fred Jannitto Sr, Central Fire Co., Engine #1. Mr. Jannitto was stricken while fighting a grass fire on Schoolhouse Road.

* July 31, 1974 — Captain Andrew St. Ours, Mechanics Fire Co., Engine #2. Mr. St. Ours was stricken while fighting a house fire on Long Lane.

* Aug. 2, 1979 — Assistant Chief Frank Brown, Central Fire Co., Engine #1. Mr. Brown was stricken after returning home from a fire that broke out at T.P.I. on Market Street.

* Sept. 10, 2004 — Former Lieutenant and Deputy Chief Richard O'Brien, Mechanics Fire Co., Engine #2. Mr. O'Brien was stricken last Friday while fighting a fire in a third-floor apartment on Water Street.

By Denise Kinney

dkinney@eastbaynewspapers.com