Two Boston firefighters were under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, respectively, when they died in a recent fire, and the autopsy results have helped renew calls for mandatory random drug testing, the New York Times reported Oct. 6.

Firefighter Paul J. Cahill, 55, had a high level of alcohol in his body when he died in an August fire at a Chinese restaurant, while the autopsy of fellow firefighter Warren J. Payne found traces of cocaine. Boston remains in the minority of big cities that don't require random drug testing of firefighters, although a 1999 independent report recommended that drug testing be expanded beyond "for-cause" screening.

Opposition from the Boston firefighters' union has scuttled past attempts to implement random drug tests, but the issue is likely to be part of the latest collective-bargaining discussions between the union and the city.

Cahill had a suspended driver's license stemming from an incident where he was pulled over for suspected drunk driving and refused a breath test. A Boston Fire Department spokesperson said that all firefighters are supposed to show supervisors a valid license each month to stay on the job, but that Cahill apparently did not do so.

Spokesperson Scott Salman said the department's investigation into the fire that killed Cahill and Payne will include whether anyone saw Cahill drunk and whether his condition or Payne's was a factor in the tragedy.