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Off-Duty Firefighter Rescues Woman From Fiery Crash

April 15, 2025

Today's good news story comes from Whitman, Massachusetts.

An off-duty firefighter in Massachusetts is being hailed a hero after springing into action to rescue a woman trapped in a burning SUV following a dramatic rollover crash.

Lt. Brian Trefry / CBS Boston

On Sunday, April 13, Whitman Fire Department Lt. Brian Trefry was driving with his wife on Route 24 southbound in Raynham, on his way to pick up his kids from their grandmother’s house, when he noticed smoke rising from the opposite side of the highway. As they got closer, he spotted a heavily damaged SUV that had rolled over into a ravine and caught fire.

Without hesitation, Lt. Trefry pulled over and carefully crossed multiple lanes of traffic to reach the vehicle. Flames were spreading from the engine to nearby vegetation, and a woman was trapped inside.

Thinking fast, Lt. Trefry searched for something to break the window and found a boot on the ground. He used it to crack the glass, but it didn’t fully shatter. A bystander handed him a window punch, but that too failed. Undeterred, he managed to force open the door, which was blocked by dirt, and pull the woman to safety.

“I had to move some dirt around, but was able to get the door open a bit, enough to grab her,” he recalled. “At first it was a struggle. Luckily, I pulled her out. She was conscious, but I noticed a little blood.”

With the help of another good Samaritan, Lt. Trefry carried the woman about 30 feet away from the SUV to protect her in case the fire worsened. He also checked the back seat to ensure no one else was trapped. Soon after, nurses arrived to assist, along with Massachusetts State Police and the Raynham Fire Department, who quickly extinguished the flames.

Though used to handling emergencies on the job, this marked the first time Lt. Trefry had to act in such a crisis while off duty.

“I’ve never been in a situation like this,” he said. “It definitely wasn’t on my Sunday morning bingo card. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

Despite the risk, he crossed all lanes of the highway again to return to his car—with drivers slowing and stopping to let him pass.

Lt. Trefry credits the fire service community for their shared dedication.

“It’s what anyone in the fire service in Massachusetts would have done,” said the veteran firefighter, who joined full-time in 2012. “I’d like to think we all would have done the same thing.”

The woman was transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and was in stable condition, according to Raynham Fire officials.

Raynham Fire Chief Bryan LaCivita praised the bystanders who helped, unaware at first that one was a firefighter.

“Their actions certainly made a difference and may very well have saved the driver’s life,” he said.

As for Lt. Trefry, he simply hopes the woman is doing well: “I’m hoping she’s alright.”