Two Saugus firefighters honored for rescue try

SAUGUS – In the finest tradition of the fire service, two Saugus firefighters made their way into a smoke-choked burning house last Jan. 16 and dragged a victim from the third floor.Although the man later died, their efforts were recognized Thursday at the Saugus Elks Lodge, where Fire Chief James Blanchard honored Fire Capt. Christopher Rizza and firefighter Michael Newbury with department commendations.According to Blanchard, events began to unfold with a telephone alarm received at 5:39 a.m., informing the Fire Department that the home at 283 Lincoln Ave. was in flames. Upon arrival, a woman told firefighters aboard Engine 1 there could be someone trapped on the third floor.The first floor was a smoky haze. Newbury and Rizza made their way up a narrow staircase to the third floor where the smoke was far more dense. At the end of the hallway, the firefighters could see smoke and feel heat emanating from behind a closed door.”Realizing the fire was on the other side of the door, they made a controlled entry by forcing the door but also controlling it as it opened,” Blanchard said. “They were met with high heat and smoke. The thermal imager was used to make a quick scan of the room and the victim was spotted.”The chief said Newbury crawled into the room, immediately grabbed the victim and began dragging him to the doorway threshold. Both firefighters hauled the victim to the top of the third-floor staircase.Other firefighters from Engine 3 were ascending the stairs with a charged hose line. Newbury and Rizza handed off the victim to the Engine 3 crew and took command of the hose.”The fire was now moving along the third-floor ceiling and heading toward the stairway,” said Blanchard, explaining how Newbury and Rizza doused the stairway with a stream of water, pushing back the flames to assure a relatively safe exit for the victim and firefighters from Engine 3.Blanchard emphasized Newbury and Rizza without hesitation entered the building and began searching for victims.”Without the aid of a charged hose line and operating above the fire, they located the victim and successfully removed him from the third floor,” the chief said. “The selfless actions of firefighter Newbury and Capt. Rizza, at great personal risk, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Saugus Fire Department, whose members place service above self and dedicate themselves to the protection of life and property. It’s with great pride that I award them the department commendation.”A Saugus native, Rizza joined the Fire Department in 1996 and was promoted to captain in 2004. A certified emergency medical technician (EMT), Rizza is also an instructor at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow and a senior instructor in its recruit training program. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Salem State University (SSU) in fire science technology.The commendation proved a particularly proud event for Newbury, another town native and second-generation Saugus firefighter who joined the department in 1998. His father, Walter Newbury, served 11 years as Saugus fire chief before retiring. Both father and son were seated at the table of honor during Thursday’s ceremony.Like Rizza, Newbury holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science technology from SSU and is a licensed EMT. Newbury and his wife, Nicole, are awaiting the arrival of their first child. The two firefighters are childhood friends, having attended the same local middle and high schools. Now they’re assigned to the same working group.The three-alarm January fire killed Steven Clain, 53, a tenant. Homeowner Pam Hussey told arson investigators she heard the smoke alarm sounding on the third floor but did not react until it began chirping a second time. Hussey said she dashed to the third floor and tried unsuccessfully to stir Clain before calling 911.