ORANGE, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — On Monday, November 18th at the 35th annual Firefighters of the Year Awards in the Mechanics Hall in Worcester, four members of the Orange Fire Department, Acting Captain/Paramedic Tim Matthews, Lieutenant Phillip Dupell, Lieutenant/EMT Jason Rushford, and Paramedic/Firefighter Nino Rodriguez, will be receiving awards for their rapid removal of a victim under heavy fire and smoke conditions during a house fire on December 13th, 2023.
The firefighters arrived on West River Street to find an occupant had escaped with burns who let them know someone was still inside. The firefighters were able to extricate her and she was flown to Brigham and Women’s Hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.
According to a statement from Chief Young, “Each member played a significant role in providing the best chance of survival for the victim under intense conditions with very limited resources and staffing during the early stages of the incident.”
Orange Fire Department members, families of the firefighters, and the Orange Selectboard and Town Administrator have all been invited to attend the awards ceremony.