WORCESTER, Mass. - A report submitted to the Worcester City Council from City Manager Ed Augustus says the Worcester Fire Department needs immediate intervention. 

City leaders and the fire department requested an independent and thorough review by Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) after the death of Lt. Jason Menard in 2019. 

The 248 page-report found poor internal communications and on-scene management and called for an improved leadership structure. 

"The department organization and how we utilize communication within the department absolutely impacts how we do our entire department operations, whether we're on scene or not,” Deputy Chief Martin Dyer said in an interview with Spectrum News 1 on Tuesday. “I think that's where it's coming to, is that we have to address things like the chain of command and how that's utilized. The training, making sure that everybody's all on the same page so when an SOP (standard operating procedure) is out, everyone understands the full intent of why is this a policy, why is this important."

ESCI held listening sessions in every Worcester fire station and asked for anonymous electronic feedback. The response across the board was from Worcester firefighters demanding change within every level of their organization.

In his communication to the City Council, Augustus says, "This report offers no sugarcoating: ESCI has determined that the culture of the Worcester Fire Department must change. To their credit, during the review process the leadership and members of the Department laid bare their needs, their thoughts and their hopes for a safer, more robust Department. The report makes clear that firefighters are seeking strong leadership, greater accountability and more training."

The report makes 10 major recommendations, including a significant increase in staffing, appointing an Assistant City Manager or Fire Commissioner to take over after Chief Michael Lavoie retires next year. Augustus says he plans to follow the report's recommendations.

We are getting Chief Dyer's reaction to the report today and will update our coverage here with his comments.