Search for answers continues as firefighter honored

WORCESTER, Mass. -- As mourners prepared to pay their respects to a firefighter killed in last week’s triple-decker apartment fire on Thursday, police were hoping the arrest of a previously missing tenant of the building would shed some light on the cause of the tragedy.

The Arson Watch Reward Committee was also offering a $5,000 reward as investigators worked to uncover the full story of what happened in the fire that cost Worcester firefighter Jon Davies his life.

Residents say there have been other fires in the area. The arrest of the resident investigators say Davies was searching for last week had some residents hoping the answers were closer.

“We’re kind of really scared about what’s going on around here, you know, that house and this house,” Walter Parzych said. “It’s really scary.”

Twenty-one-year-old Ronald Robbins was arraigned Wednesday on charges related to a previous assault and battery, not on any charges connected to the fire. Investigators had been searching for Robbins as a potential witness, however.

Meanwhile, firefighters from across the country gathered in Worcester to honor Davies.

Jared Flanders, an 11-year-old boy, put on a suit and tie and walked about a mile to Davies' wake. He said he wanted to attend because he understands the pain of losing a loved one. He lost his brother in Iraq 5 months ago.

"After what happened to my brother, I just - I would feel bad for the other families and wanted to come support them," said Flanders.

Investigators say they still do not know the exact cause of the fire.

Davies' funeral will be held Thursday morning.

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