WHITMAN – The Select Board on Tuesday, April 29 honored a hometown hero, awarding a proclamation recognizing the above-the-call lifesaving efforts successfully performed by Lt. Brian Trefry last month along Route 24 in Raynham.
Vice Chair Dan Salvucci, read the board’s proclamation, saluting Trefery’s quick action. Salvucci was filling in for Chair Dr. Carl Kowalski’s role as he was traveling on Sunday, April 13,
Trefey was driving to a family gathering when he saw smoke ahead on the opposite side of the highway, the proclamation outlined.
Coming up on the source of the smoke, he saw a heavily damaged SUV in a ravine with a woman trapped inside, Salvucci said. He pulled over, and after crossing four lanes to get to the scene.
“After trying, unsuccessfully, to break the windows, Lt. Trefry was able to open the door enough to pull the woman out and, with the help of another good Samaritan, was able to move the woman about 30 feet way from the fire, before he returned to the vehicle to see if there was anyone else inside.” Salvucci read. “Lt. Brian Trefry acted heroically and selflessly through his exceptional and commendable actions and has earned the admiration and respect of not only his colleagues on the Whitman Fire Department, but that of other town officials and the residents as well.”
Fire Chief Timothy Clancy announced that he was recommending Trefry for consideration by the Department of Fire Services for the Mass. Firefighter of the Year Award.
“Without any hesitation, he went across the highway and tried to get into that vehicle,” Clancy said. Another good Samaritan was able to get the victim out after Trefry pried the door open as a fire in the engine compartment burned.
Clancy echoed the words of the Raynham Fire Department’s chief at the scene, “Their actions certainly made a difference and my very well have saved the life. I will take that a step further and say their actions did save a life.
“This is prime example of how the members of Whitman Fire Rescue are committed to aiding the public whether they are on duty or off,” Clancy said.
Scott Figgins also read a proclamation from state Rep. Alyson Sullivan-Almeida, who could not attend due to budget work at the State House.
In other business, the board voted to grant the Whitman Cultural Council to use the Town Hall auditorium as an alternate location for its summer concerts program in the event of inclement weather.
They also granted permission to Whitman Veterans’ Council hold the annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26.
After several executive sessions, the board returned to open session to ratify a memorandum of understanding with the Town Hall Employee Union, OPEIU Local 6.