Select Board honors Southborough firefighters for two recent rescues

The Select Board of the Town of Southborough opened its July 7 meeting by publicly recognizing local firefighters involved in two recent, high‑risk rescues. Town staff and the fire department described responses on June 7 to a fisherman who fell from a boat in a small pond and on June 11 to a tree‑rescue that required harnessing a firefighter to a crane and an eventual medical airlift to a level‑1 trauma center.

A fire‑department representative recounted that Engine 22 and Ambulance 29 were first on the scene both nights and activated district rescue teams when necessary; the department issued unit citations to crews for “teamwork under pressure” and awarded a Firefighter’s Cross to firefighter William Kipp for his actions in the June 11 technical rescue. The staff presentation named Captain Brittany Doan, Captain Dana Amendola, Captain Jason Roach, firefighters Travis Pacific, William Kipp, Christina Stapleton, Matthew Rice and Robert Barraccio among those recognized.

Select Board Chair Kathy said the recognition underscored the community’s gratitude: “I got chills right now seeing all you here in your uniforms and hearing these stories,” she said. Board members and members of the public also thanked firefighters for their rapid response in dangerous conditions and for improving residents’ sense of safety.

The board made no formal policy changes at the recognition; the awards were presented as ceremonial acknowledgements of service. The Select Board then recessed briefly before resuming the public agenda.