Skip to main content

Boston firefighter killed in line of duty at 3-alarm Dorchester fire — the full timeline of how the night unfolded

Sunday, May 24, 2026
3 min read
MDN Staff
1 share
Boston firefighter killed in line of duty at 3-alarm Dorchester fire — the full timeline of how the night unfolded

Rescue 2's Robert T. 'Bobby' Kilduff Jr., a 24-year Boston Fire veteran and third-generation firefighter, fell from the third floor at 18 Treadway Road Saturday night and was pronounced at Boston Medical Center.

Listen to Article

0:003:00
Speed:
DORCHESTER — Boston firefighter Robert T. "Bobby" Kilduff Jr. had spent 24 years going into burning homes. Three generations of his family had done the same job. Late Saturday night, he climbed to the third floor of a burning wood-frame house on Treadway Road. Just after 9 p.m., he fell.
He was pronounced at Boston Medical Center. Boston Fire announced his death just before 12:40 a.m. Sunday. He was a member of Rescue 2 and a Marine Corps veteran before that.
Here is how the night went down.
Boston Fire was called to 18 Treadway Road — off Savin Hill Avenue, near Dorchester Avenue — at about 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. Within twelve minutes the call had been upgraded to a 3-alarm. Heavy fire was already showing.
Companies attacked from both inside and outside the structure. The home was burning on all three floors. Rescue 2 — the squad Kilduff was assigned to — was working the building.

MASSDAILYNEWS

STAY UPDATED

Get Mass Daily News delivered to your inbox

Multiple ladders went up. Ground crews worked below, aerial crews above.
The fire burned through the roof. Crews held it to 18 Treadway, stopping it from spreading to the homes pressed against either side. From the street, Boston Fire's own photos showed the flames erupting from the third-floor peak.
Somewhere in that fight, Kilduff fell.
Boston EMS packaged him for transport. Boston Police set up a safety corridor. The ambulance ran lights and sirens to Boston Medical Center.
He was pronounced there.
Around 1 a.m. Sunday, a dignified transfer left BMC, escorted by police. Photos circulated through the Boston firefighter community within minutes.
Kilduff was a third-generation Boston firefighter. His grandfather and father wore the uniform before him. He served in the United States Marine Corps before joining the Boston Fire Department 24 years ago. He was assigned to Rescue 2.
This is a developing story.

Have a tip? Email us at [email protected]

Loading Comments