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Bellingham Firefighter Receives Heroic Award

Captain Robert Provost III, of the Bellingham Fire Department, received an award at the 33rd Annual Firefighter of the Year Heroic Awards ceremony in Worcester on November 18th.

By J.D. O’Gara
On Friday, November 18th, Captain Robert Provost III, of the Bellingham Fire Department, was among those recognized in the 33rd Annual Firefighter of the Year Heroic Awards. Captain Provost received a Governor’s Citation for Meritorious conduct lifesaving actions while off-duty this summer.  On the afternoon of July 2, 2022, Capt. Provost was working out at the gym when he was notified of a medical emergency within the building. He immediately found the victim, an older adult who had collapsed and was in cardiac arrest. Capt. Provost initiated CPR and then used a defibrillator from the gym to revive the man before EMS arrived, playing a crucial and lifesaving role when every second mattered.
State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey recognized Cpt. Provost’s heroism and service in a ceremony at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Capt. Provost joined 18 other individuals and eight groups representing the fire departments of Ashby, Bellingham, Berlin, Bolton, Eastham, Fall River, Foxborough, Hopkinton, Lawrence, Lynn, Nahant, Natick, New Bedford, North Attleborough, Springfield, Stoughton, and Tewksbury. WCVB-TV anchor Doug Meehan emceed the event. Firefighters were honored in front of family members, previous award recipients, elected officials, fire chiefs from across the Commonwealth, and members of the public safety community.
As his Chief, I’m very proud of what he did,” says Chief Gentile, of the Bellingham Fire Department. “When you’re a firefighter, you’re a firefighter whether you’re working or whether you’re not. Captain Provost exemplified that that day, when he saved that man’s life using nothing but a defibrillator and his knowledge (of CPR).” Gentile adds,” This community can be safe knowing they never know who we are or where we are, but we always jump in and help out. That’s what exemplifies, to me, being what a firefighter is all about.”
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