Tai Ho Restaurant Thick Grease In Ventilation System

WEST ROXBURY - While fire investigators worked on Thursday morning to determine the cause of a fatal fire at the Tai Ho restaurant that killed two veteran Boston firefighters, mourners gathered along Centre Street to pay their respects.

The two firefighters killed in the blaze were Paul J. Cahill, 55, of Scituate and Warren J. Payne, 53, of Canton. Cahill joined the BFD in 1993; Payne in 1988. They entered the building with hoses in hand, believing they would find a "standard" kitchen fire. Instead, they were met with a ball of flames followed by the collapse of the roof.

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Later in the day, fire officials revealed that thick grease had accumulated in the ventalation system "for some time," resulting in toxic, combustable fumes. The fumes, according to fire officials and witnesses, quickly became an inferno as a ball of fire tore through the restaurant.

It was around 9:30 when he arrived at the restuarnt where he said he frequently gets takeout food.

According to officials, it only took two minutes for the firefighters from Engine 30/Ladder 25 to reach the scene.

"It's better to see what's going on," said the younger Dolan, whose mother said the girls just wanted to see for themselves what was going on after hearing countless sirens and smelling the charred dining spot where they too got takeout.

"You could smell the smoke last night," said Gallant before the girls told the elder Dolan that they insisted on staying "a little longer" while boards were placed where the building's windows once were.

Jessica Smith can be reached at jsmith@cnc.com