PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two city firefighters were among the 170 from throughout the state recognized on Tuesday for valor and meritorious conduct at the 36th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards.

 

Firefighters Clarence Gunn and Mathew Mazzeo received Citations for Meritorious Conduct for their swift actions in rescuing an ice fisherman who had fallen through the ice on Onota Lake last January. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Public Safety & Security Secretary Gina K. Kwon, and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine honored 15 local fire departments and two state agencies at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

 

"This year's awards reflect selfless acts of courage and skill that saved lives, protected homes, and delivered our most vulnerable residents from danger," said Healey. "To every firefighter who puts on the gear and answers the call, you have my gratitude and the gratitude of our entire state. We are so proud to support you as you support our safety every day."

 

Back in January, Gunn and Mazzeo donned cold-water rescue suits and used an ice sled to reach the fallen fisherman and ended up in the water as well when the ice broke under them. They were able to get the fisherman on the sled and remove him from the water. The rescue was described as "a manpower intensive operation taking place on an unstable and unpredictable ice surface."

 

The fisherman and one of the firefighters were taken to Berkshire Medical Center for hypothermia; both fully recovered. 

 

The awards were representative of 17 emergency scenes between June 20, 2024, and June 30, 2025. They included two individual citations for meritorious conduct, 10 group citations, and 13 Medals of Valor.

 

One veteran firefighter, Chicopee Capt. Katie Collins-Kalbaugh, received the Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service for her work as a longtime fire safety and prevention advocate. Davine presented the Fire Marshal's award to two groups: a team of Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors and support staff who saved the life of a recruit who went into cardiac arrest during training, and to Chief Fire Warden David Celino and 67 wildland firefighters from the Department of Conservation & Recreation for their work during last fall's wildfires.

 

"We have a saying in the fire service — you risk a little to save a little, and you risk a lot to save a lot," said Davine. "In big cities and small towns, these firefighters risked everything when lives were on the line. The physical, mental, and technical skills they bring to this demanding job are second to none, and the Firefighter of the Year awards are a small way of recognizing their singular value to our commonwealth."