Remote patrol

The firefighter tragedy that touched the nation last December is relived in a moving "48 Hours" at 7 tonight on Channel 5. Six men died in the acrid smoke of a huge, windowless industrial building in Worcester, Mass. Their comrades spent eight sleepless days and nights digging through the rubble for their bodies. President Clinton joined more than 30,000 firefighters from around the world at the funeral. CBS re-created that terrible week using video footage and interviews with the survivors. One in particular, the father of 34-year-old firefighter Jay Lyons, will break your heart. What touched so many people about the tragedy is that the firefighters had gone into the building to rescue two homeless persons that reportedly slept there. In fact, the couple had left the building, but not before accidentally setting the fatal blaze. It is what happens after criminal charges are filed against the homeless couple - and a dramatic twist brought about by publicity of their trial - that makes for an equally compelling second half-hour. @ART CAPTION:Firefighters try in vain to control the blaze that killed six of their comrades. @ART:Photo (color) >>>