'Always there to help': Firefighters' life-saving efforts celebrated in Worcester

WORCESTER — Hundreds of firefighters from departments across Massachusetts gathered Tuesday at the Mechanics Hall for the 34th Annual Firefighter of the Year awards ceremony.

The ceremony honors select firefighters in Massachusetts who have displayed heroic and lifesaving acts on the job.

“The Firefighters of the Year Award provides us with a wealth of opportunity to pay tribute to our commonwealth heroes who apply extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice and compassion, demonstrated by some of our most courageous public servants,” Terrence Reidy, the state secretary of public safety and security, said at the ceremony. “We know they will probably say that they were just doing their jobs, but that doesn't make the job less demanding.”

“The bravery and dedication performed by today's award recipients are considered remarkable by the high standard of Massachusetts firefighters,” Reidy said.

Here are some of their stories.

Rescue at Everett recycling plant

On the afternoon of Oct. 13, Everett firefighters received a call from a metal recycling disposal site. An employee had become entangled in a mobile shredding machine, with one of his legs wedged between the gears.

Dozens of Everett firefighters and mutual aid were on the site for hours. Firefighter Michael O’Donnell and Private Ian Tweeddale were honored for risking their own safety to provide comfort and support to the victim. The victim had to be surgically removed from the machine and was taken to a nearby hospital to get treated.

O’Donnell and Tweeddale received a citation for meritorious conduct.

“We cannot overstate how reassuring it is to know that there are teams of men and women out there dedicated to keeping us safe. Because when we don't know what else to call, we call the fire department,” Gov. Maura Healey said.

Crash at Hingham Apple Store

On Nov. 21, 2022, in Hingham, an SUV crashed into the side of an Apple Store, shattering and spewing glass everywhere. The crash killed one and injured 16. Pounds of glass and stone hung above firefighters as they entered to assist the victims of the crash.

The Hingham Fire Department as well as the Rockland and Weymouth Fire Departments showed up to the scene to help with aid. All firefighters who responded to this call received a Citation for Meritorious Conduct.

“No matter what that emergency or call is about firefighters who are there to respond and always there to help,” Healey said. “It may be in the middle of a cold winter night or on the hottest day of the year.”

Hospital evacuation in Brockton

The morning of Feb. 7, a disastrous electrical fire broke out at the Signature Health Care Brockton Hospital. The fire could not be dealt with until all electricity was shut off. All 180 patients and staff were safely evacuated from the building that morning. Not a single injury was reported.

Deputy Chief Scott Albanese and Deputy Chief Jeff Marchetti of the Brockton Fire Department received the Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal Award.

“No matter when or what happens, firefighters put everything on the line, risking their safety to make our lives and communities safer,” Healey said.

The ceremony closed with a moment of silence for those fallen firefighters.

“Our firefighters are trained and prepared for any crisis, always,” Reidy said. “To imagine the unimaginable. The challenges have become more varied and complex, and the job continues to evolve. However, for those who pursue a career in fire services, the dedication, compassion and willingness to sacrifice remain fundamental.”

Here is a full list of those honored.

Medals of Valor

• Holbrook: – Lt. Andrew Johnson, Firefighter/EMT Edward F. Baker Jr., Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Campbell, Firefighter/Paramedic John M. Holland, Firefighter/Paramedic David Martineau

• Nantucket: Capt. Nate Barber

• New Bedford: Lt. Steven Torres

Governor’s Citation for Meritorious Conduct (Individual)

• Chelmsford: Firefighter Josh Abbott

• East Longmeadow: Firefighter/Paramedic Matthew Adams, Firefighter/Paramedic Bryan Drury

• Everett: Firefighter Michael O'Donnell, Private Ian Tweeddale

• Lawrence: Firefighter Paul King

• Longmeadow: Deputy Chief Gerald Macsata

• Lynn: Lt. Mathew Reddy

• New Bedford: Firefighter William Cabral

• Somerville: Lt. Jay Colbert

• West Springfield: Firefighter/Paramedic Nick LaPalme

• Whitman: – Firefighter/Paramedic Richard MacKinnon

Governor’s Citations for Meritorious Conduct (Group)

• Ashland:  Lt. Anthony Duca

• Brockton: Capt. Michael McKenna, Lt. James Dubeau, Firefighter Ryan Doherty, Firefighter Elisha Eleyi, Firefighter Corey Lacey, Firefighter Edward Lee, Firefighter James Nee

• Chelsea: Capt. Michael Gurska, Firefighter Cristian D. Avellaneda, Firefighter Steven Waxman

• Chicopee: Deputy Chief Peter Jerusik, Capt. Robert McQueen, Lt. Robert M. Tetreault, Lt. Kirsten Therrien, Firefighter Adam Anischik, Firefighter Preston Bailey, Firefighter Joe Berge, Firefighter Drew Brzoska, Firefighter Nathan Carvalho, Firefighter Rember Wildami Parada, Firefighter John Skaza, Firefighter Matthew Turgeon, Firefighter Tyler R. Vaccaro

• Hingham: – Deputy Chief David Levenson, Deputy Chief Louis Lachance, Capt. Nathaniel H. Winnie Sr, Lt. Chris DiNapoli, Lt. Michael Giese, Lt. Tom Jacintho, Lt. Sarah Joy, Lt. Dave Nickerson, Firefighter Alex Bailey, Firefighter/Paramedic Thomas Betschart, Firefighter Angela Clancy, Firefighter Tim Holmes, Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin McMasters, Firefighter Nichole Pinkus, Firefighter Pat Sheridan, Firefighter Ryan Twombly

• Hopkinton:Deputy Chief Gary Daugherty Jr, Lt. John Sheridan, Firefighter Jim Gosselin, Firefighter Maxwell Hoadley, Firefighter Douglas R. Lewis III, Firefighter Jarrod Taranto

• Nantucket: Deputy Chief Robert G. Bates Jr. (Ret.), Deputy Chief Sean Mitchell, Capt. Jeffrey Allen (Ret.), Capt. Nate Barber, Call Capt. Earl C Eldridge, Capt. Francis M. Hanlon, Capt. Charles Kymer, Capt. Kevin Ramos, Capt. Joe Townsend, Firefighter Dave Angelastro, Firefighter Beau Barber, Firefighter Jason Barker, Firefighter Ivo Baychev, Firefighter Mario Cameron, Firefighter Matthew J. Canty, Firefighter Germano Chatti, Call Firefighter Mac Davis, Firefighter Ethan Fey, Firefighter Michael Finnegan, Firefighter Christopher Gould, Firefighter Chris Holland, Firefighter Scott Holmes, Firefighter Alana Macey, Firefighter Mack McGrath, Firefighter Shawn Monaco (Ret.), Firefighter David Pekarcik, Firefighter Shane Perry, Firefighter Corey Ray, Firefighter Alex Rezendes

• New Bedford: Capt. Michael Dillon, Lt. Ernest Letendre, Firefighter Kyle Martin, Firefighter Jonathan Parkin, Firefighter Renald Russo III

• New Bedford: District Chief Steven Beaulieu, District Chief Gary Raposa, Lt. Jason Beaulieu, Lt. Kevin Farnworth, Lt. Daniel Jackson, Firefighter Jason Barker, Firefighter Nicholas Corvi, Firefighter Jesse Andrade, Firefighter Bryce Fortes, Firefighter Kenneth Letourneau, Firefighter Mark Pacheco, Firefighter Derek Santos

• New Bedford: District Chief Scott Gomes, Capt. Kenneth A. Silva Jr, Temp Lt. Marco Delima, Temp Lt. Brandon Medeiros, Lt. Louis Miranda, Lt. Steven Torres, Firefighter Moises Rodriguez

• Rockland: Deputy Chief Thomas L. Heaney

• Stoneham:Firefighter Andrew Chabak, Firefighter Mike Paone, Firefighter Nick Rolli

• Weymouth: Deputy Chief Steven Murray, Lt. James Patrick Marcella, Firefighter Jimmy Irrizarry, Firefighter Eric Murray, Firefighter Brad L. Sherrick

Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal Award

• Brockton: Deputy Chief Scott Albanese, Deputy Chief Jeff Marchetti

• Hingham: Deputy Chief David Levenson

Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service

• Sunderland: Lt. Matthew Morin

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Firefighter of the Year awards presented at Mechanics Hall Worcester