Norwood Fire Honored Twice At Firefighter Of The Year Awards

NORWOOD, MA — Members of the Norwood Fire Department were honored Tuesday for their response to two incidents.

Lieutenant Jeffrey Campilio and Firefighter George Burton received a citation for their response to a building fire and Lieutenant/EMT David Hayes, Firefighter/Paramedic George Burton, Firefighter/Paramedic Brian Donoghue, Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Fuller, Firefighter/EMT Nick Murphy, and Firefighter/Paramedic Pat Moloney were recognized for their response to a plane crash in Westwood.

On Feb. 3, Norwood Fire Group 1 responded to a fire at a row of townhouses. A resident met the arriving crew and directed them to the unit next to hers. Norwood Police helped to evacuate adjoining units while firefighters put primary and backup hand lines in place and got the water supply ready. It was a coordinated team effort as the Engine 3 crew went into the apartment and found the kitchen on fire. With zero visibility and high heat, Campilio believed that the fire was under control and directed crew upstairs and to the attic area to check for fire extensions. After some of the smoke had cleared from the first floor he found an unconscious man in front of the living room couch. Firefighter Burton helped bring the male to the door for CPR. Lt. Campilio and Firefighter Burton went back into the building to search for others and found a second victim tangled in electrical wire from the entertainment system. They carefully untangled the unconscious woman and brought her out the door.

Both residents were taken to the hospital, and both made full recoveries. There were initial reports of two children being in the house, but they were at a sleepover that evening.

On July 16, Norwood Fire assisted in the response to a plane crash in a heavily wooded area of Westwood, a few miles away from Norwood Airport. The location was extremely difficult and required all rescue equipment – including hose-lines, fire extinguishers, chain saws, portable extrication equipment – be carried in by members in full gear. Fire and police worked together to reach the crash site and remove a large tree that had fallen directly on the small plane. Then, they cut the roof of the aircraft and removed the first person from the plane and out of the woods, all within 17 minutes from first arrival. Crews from Canton, Dedham, Norwood and Walpole Fire Departments provided mutual aid that led to the rapid extrication of the second person and out of the woods. The pilot has serious injuries but made a full recovery. Unfortunately, the passenger, identified as Hylie "Lee" Hutchens of Norwood, died a few days later.

In total, 33 awards were presented to various fire departments.

Information in this article was provided by the state Department of Fire Services.

Image via Walpole Fire Department