MONTAGUE — Turners Falls Fire Capt. Michael Currie and Gill firefighter Eric Vassar were recognized for their meritorious conduct on Tuesday at the state’s annual firefighter of the year ceremony.
Turners Falls Fire Chief John Zellmann said the two were honored for their work last July when they tried to save a man who drowned in the Connecticut River while they were off duty.
On July 16, 2016 a farmworker swimming in the river with friends during his break when he disappeared into the water. Currie was nearby jogging when he heard his pager and came to the scene. Vassar was nearby as well and both men got into the water and brought the man to shore where they performed CPR.
“They overheard it and just acted the way my guys do, they’re willing to help at any given time,” Zellmann said.
Zellmann said that this is Currie’s second award for meritorious conduct, and that he received the first in 2015 for a technical rescue in Erving.
“It doesn’t happen too often. It really doesn’t,” he said. “I’m proud of my guys.”
Reach Miranda Davis at
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