Hopedale firefighter Jeff Cote, who is also an instructor at the state’s Fire Academy, was recently recognized for his role in a medical emergency on campus in January 2025. He was presented with the Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal’s Award on Nov. 25 during the state’s 36th Annual Firefighter of the Year awards ceremony. 

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy serves about 13,000 firefighters at every level of experience each year. The Recruit Training Program is its largest and most complex program, delivered at three regional campuses across the state and providing foundational lessons that every new firefighter must master. The instructors who deliver this training, and the Crib staff who support it, have years and even decades as working firefighters. There’s no substitute for that level of knowledge and experience.

 At the event, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine explained the incident. 

“The Academy’s Stow campus was busy last year on the morning of Jan. 29, 2025. 

“It was Training Day 23 and Burn Day 2 for members of Class #328. At about 10 a.m., just after the first burn of the day, one of the recruits appeared to be in distress. In the span of just a few moments, he lost consciousness and went into cardiac arrest.

“Fortunately, the on-duty instructors and support staff immediately sprang into action. They quickly took his vitals and applied oxygen, a defibrillator, and CPR while calling 9-1-1. They got the recruit’s pulse back, got him breathing on his own, and he was conscious and alert when he was transported – with an instructor riding next to him in the ambulance. I’m very happy to report that he made a full recovery.

 “Medical emergencies are part and parcel of a firefighter’s day-to-day work, but let’s be honest – a crisis like this is different when the patient is someone entrusted to your care. Fortunately, as active duty and retired firefighters, they demonstrated the mental clarity and technical skill necessary for the urgent work at hand. I’ll say it again – there’s no substitute for that level of knowledge and experience.

 Each and every one of these personnel played a key role in the chain of care that saved this recruit’s life.  I am deeply grateful to them for their rapid, professional, and ultimately life-saving work that morning. They represent the highest traditions of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, and it’s my honor to present them with the Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal’s Award.” 

Cote was one of 19 staff members to receive the award. 

Source: Massachusetts Department of Fire Services