WORCESTER, Mass. - Hundreds of firefighters gathered for the 35th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards in Worcester on Monday. Twenty-two Worcester firefighters were among those honored.

Their efforts included rushing to help a gunshot victim at the 2023 Caribbean Festival in Worcester, saving multiple lives in the Washington Heights apartment complex fire in June, and rescuing a mother and her young daughter who were trapped on the third floor of a Cohasset Street apartment building last November.

Off-duty firefighter Ryan Magee had heard his neighbors shouting, and went into the building with no protective gear to try and save them.

Other Worcester honorees included Captain Jessie Verdolino and Lts. Matthew Kane, John Ushinski, Patrick Chviruk, Matthew Johnson, Patrick Moran and Brian O’Connor. Firefighters Michael Berube, David Brotherton, Timothy Brotherton, Steven Brotherton, Giuliano Conte, Patrick Flibbert, Matthew Foley, Timothy Fontaine, Dana Ford, Kyle Green, Sean Murphy, Edwin Paulino, Daniel Roy and Andrejs Sterns were also recognized.

Assistant Fire Chief Adam Roche said the department’s dedication to the community was on full display.

"It’s a perfect demonstration that there’s so many different types of responses we go to, whether it be a water rescue, whether it’s something like a shooting at the Caribbean festival, or your everyday three-decker fires where we’re rescuing individuals,” Roche said.

Gov. Maura Healey, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy and State Fire Marshal Jon Davine presented awards during the celebration at Mechanics Hall.

Healey said recent brush fires have shown communities how important their local fire departments are, but there’s a lot of work which goes unnoticed.

“This year’s award winners carried residents from burning homes, pulled out swimmers from the water, and even rescued their brother and sister firefighters under crisis conditions,” Healey said. “Some of them have spent decades helping their communities, while others are fresh on the job. But they have one thing in common - when they heard the call for help, they answered.”

In total, 139 firefighters from 22 communities received awards.