ATHOL – Members of the Athol Fire Department, along with friends and family, will gather this Sunday to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty.

Several members of the department will receive recognition for their years of service or actions taken in the line of duty. The annual Firefighter Memorial will take place at 10 a.m., Sunday, July 23, at the fire station at 2251 Main St.

“This is a very solemn event,” said Fire Chief Joseph Guarner, “and it’s meant to be so. It’s to remember past firefighters, honor current firefighters and future firefighters, and the sacrifices we make daily.”

Guarnera said these losses aren’t just in the line of duty. Many who retire succumb to cancer, injury, or diseases exposed to while active in their departments. Guarnera pointed out that incidents of cancer are 300 times more prevalent in firefighters than the average citizen.

“I’ve gone to many a wake of firefighters who have died a year or two after they’ve retired because they’ve succumbed to something they’ve acquired while on the job,” said the chief. “So the reason we do this is to remember those firefighters who’ve done this for the safety of the citizens of the cities and towns they live in, as well as the firefighters who continue to do this, because it’s not any safer now than it was 100 years ago.”

This Sunday’s recognition will include the Medal of Bravery, which will go to Athol Police Detective Corey Chauvette. Guarnera said that so far this year, the department has had two fires which no one could respond to due to staffing issues.

“At one fire, Detective Chauvette responded and not only did he confirm there was an active fire, he actually entered the building and, using an extinguisher and other techniques, was able to extinguish a kitchen fire,” said the chief. “If he did not put out that fire the way he did and when he did, that entire house would have been engulfed in flame minutes after he got there.”

Another honoree will be 15-year-old Rafael Lopez, who will receive a Young Hero Award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dept. of Fire Services, as well as from the Athol Fire Department. Lopez was home at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2022, when a fire started in a bedroom. Guarnera said that Lopez helped people evacuate and reported the fire.

When firefighters arrived, they found smoke and flames coming from the second floor. One person was transported to Athol Hospital for smoke inhalation but, said Guarnera, “Due to his quick thinking, the fire was contained to the bedroom and no further injuries were sustained. And because of his quick actions, we were able to contain the fire to the one bedroom.”

Athol resident Emily Martin will receive a Special Recognition Certificate for her quick response to a house fire. Guarnera said that Martin saw flames coming from the window of a house and helped the occupant to leave.

Career Service Awards will be given to Firefighter Bruce Dubrule for 25 years of service and to Firefighters Derek Perry and William Publicover for five years each. In addition, accommodation pins will be awarded to Firefighters Derek Perry and Travis Bailey, and Capt. John Seamon and Lt. William Clayton, both of the Phillipston Fire Department, all of whom assisted in the delivery of a baby. Athol Firefighters William Publicover and Travis Bailey will receive the same recognition for their part in the delivery.

Family Pet Veterinary Services will be given a Special Recognition Certificate for assisting in the department’s Nero training. That training provided firefighter/EMTs with the tools to administer basic life support to police K9s injured in the line of duty. Nero’s Law, which allows emergency medical personnel to provide treatment and transport to police dogs, was passed several years ago after Yarmouth K9 officer Nero was wounded while responding to an incident in 2018. Nero’s handler, Sgt. Sean Gannon, was killed at that same incident.

The recipient of the Athol Firefighter of the Year Award for 2023 will be announced at the memorial service.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.

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