Healy-Driscoll administration presents 34th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards

Ceremony recognizes 130 firefighters, including two from Everett

Governor Maura Healey and Public Safety Secretary Terrence Reidy joined State Fire Marshal Jon Davine to honor firefighters from across Massachusetts at the 34th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards ceremony. WCVB’s Doug Meehan emceed the event at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

The awards and recipients from Everett are as follows: Governor’s Citation for Meritorious Conduct (Individual): Everett Firefighter Michael O’Donnell, Private Ian Tweeddale. According to the Department of Fire Services, “On the afternoon of October 13, 2022, Everett firefighters arrived at a metal recycling and disposal site for a chilling call: an employee had become entangled in a giant shredding machine, with his lower left leg wedged between the gears. After exhausting all other options, a surgeon was rushed to the scene and tasked with removing the man’s leg. Dozens of Everett Fire Department personnel and mutual aid were onsite for hours, but two firefighters stood out for their efforts during the ordeal. Throughout the incident, Firefighter Michael O’Donnell and Private Ian Tweeddale provided comfort and support to the man, while risking their own safety as they straddled the gears of the shredder. During the amputation itself, Firefighter O’Donnell assisted the surgeon with the procedure. The patient was extricated and brought to the hospital, where he received additional treatment and survived.”

“Each year, the Firefighter of the Year Awards recognize acts of bravery, heroism, and service that are truly remarkable – even by the remarkable standards set by Massachusetts firefighters,” said Governor Healey. “From structure fires to rushing waters, this year’s recipients defied grave danger to protect lives and preserve property. It’s an honor to celebrate them as individuals and teams. They represent the very finest in a tradition of helping others in times of danger and crisis.”

“Massachusetts firefighters have an extraordinary capacity for bravery, technical knowledge, and kindness toward those in their greatest moment of need,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “As a former mayor now serving in statewide office, my admiration of the fire service has only grown when I consider the varied, complex scenes they respond to every day across our 351 cities and towns. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients, and continued safety to those who do this work.”

“The Firefighter of the Year awards are a chance to recognize and honor the heroes who serve our communities with unwavering courage, sacrifice, and compassion,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Reidy. “These distinguished awards are reserved for those individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery, risking personal safety and delivering life-saving service to rescue strangers from harm.”

“The firefighters we recognize today used every physical, mental, and technical skill available to them under some of the most extreme conditions imaginable,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “They relied on their training, their teamwork, and their determination to get the job done. It’s my great honor to thank them for their service to the Commonwealth and their communities, and to congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.”

Governor Healey, Secretary Reidy, and State Fire Marshal Davine presented seven medals of valor, 12 individual citations for meritorious conduct, 10 group citations for meritorious conduct, two Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal’s Awards, and one Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service to members of 22 Massachusetts fire departments.

Most of the awards reflected lifesaving rescues performed individually and collectively by on- and off-duty firefighters at structure fires and crash sites. The Steven D. Coan Fire Marshal’s Awards – named for Massachusetts’ longest-serving fire marshal – were presented to personnel who managed two lengthy and complex operations: the Feb. 7, 2023, 10-alarm fire at Signature Brockton Hospital, the largest response in that city’s history, and a mass casualty incident following a vehicle crash in the Apple Store in Hingham on Nov. 21, 2022. The Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service – named for the philanthropist who has raised and coordinated benefits to the families of countless fallen firefighters and police officers – was presented to the fire prevention and education officer for Sunderland Fire Department, who helped develop a first responder training program that sets professional standards for respectfully and professionally interacting with members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Since the inception of the Firefighter of the Year Awards in 1990, the ceremony has grown from a simple one to being the premier annual event for the Massachusetts fire service, honoring truly remarkable acts of courage, service and sacrifice by the Commonwealth’s firefighters and recognizing their invaluable contributions to the communities they serve.