Boston — Four Great Barrington first responders, including three police officers and a volunteer firefighter, were honored Monday at the State House for their role in a rescue operation at a downtown Great Barrington home in December.
On the afternoon of Dec. 10, 2016, State Trooper Brian Clay, who is assigned to the State Police barracks in Lee, overheard an emergency radio broadcast for a reported fire at a home in Great Barrington. The call came in at 2:51 p.m. for responders at 26 Dresser Ave. on a report of a kitchen stove fire at a two-story, wood frame, single-family home.
Clay rushed to the home and found that the fire had quickly spread.
First responders then learned that a 76-year-old bedridden man was in the home. Clay began assisting Great Barrington Police Officer Sam Stolzar, who was attempting to break a window to get in. They breached the window and Great Barrington volunteer firefighter Richard Aloisi, without any protective gear or equipment, entered the home but was unable to locate the man.
Police Sgt. Adam Carlotto, also without any protective gear or equipment, then entered the home through the same window to continue the search for the man. Carlotto came back to the window shortly thereafter with the elderly victim.
Clay and Stolzar carried the man through the window to safety. Within seconds of getting the man to safety, that same window became fully engulfed in flames. The elderly man suffered smoke inhalation but has since made a full recovery. He would have lost his life without the assistance of three police officers and the firefighter.
For his quick thinking and courageous actions, Aloisi was recently awarded the Massachusetts State Police Lifesaving Award. Clay, Carlotto and Stolzar were commended in Personnel Orders and awarded the Massachusetts State Police Medal of Lifesaving.
