MARSHFIELD — A 7-year-old boy and his father were recognized by the Marshfield Fire Department this week after officials said their quick actions helped alert neighbors to a house fire and slowed its spread before firefighters arrived.
During the June 1 Select Board meeting, Fire Chief Michael LaSelva presented a commendation to Nolan Gerbutavich, a first-grade student in Marshfield, and his father, Adam Gerbutavich, for their response to a fire at a neighboring home on May 9.
LaSelva said the fire department received a 911 call reporting a structure fire at 2:44 p.m. Firefighters arrived within five minutes and found a fire that had started on the home's exterior before extending into the attached garage and attic space. Crews were able to contain the fire, but LaSelva said the efforts of the Gerbutavich family before firefighters arrived made a significant difference.
In a citation read aloud during the meeting, LaSelva said Nolan noticed smoke coming from the neighboring property and alerted his parents. Adam then ran to the home to warn the occupants, who were unaware of the fire.
"Their quick thinking and brave actions prevented a bad situation from progressing to a much worse one," LaSelva said. "Nolan and Adam are the essence of what it is to be good neighbors and outstanding citizens and they embody the spirit of our Marshfield residence."
The chief showed doorbell camera footage from the incident, which captured the growing smoke and Adam's efforts to alert the residents and later use a fire extinguisher to knock down flames before firefighters arrived.
"What Adam and Nolan did was buy us time to save that house undoubtedly," LaSelva said. "Adam ran towards danger not once but twice and made a huge difference."
LaSelva noted that Adam works as an elevator repair technician and had received training on fire extinguisher use, which helped him respond effectively.
After receiving the commendation, Nolan described what he remembered from that afternoon.
"I alerted them already and I say that this is not looking right," Nolan said. "And I was so panicked and I keep saying over and over again, ‘I feel so bad for them.’ I was so nervous."
He told Select Board members that seeing the fire was the first time he had ever felt that nervous.
"But you did a good job," Adam told his son during the exchange.
Select Board Chair Rick Smith praised Nolan for acting despite his fear.
"One of the definitions of bravery, Nolan, is doing the right thing even when you're nervous," Smith said.
Adam said his first priority was helping the residents escape.
"We just tried getting them out at first. Literally the guy was sitting on the other side of the wall, like six inches away from the fire. So he had no idea what was going on on the other side," Adam said.
After the residents were outside, he returned home to retrieve a fire extinguisher and attempted to slow the fire's spread.
"We're a pretty tight neighborhood, so everyone's very friendly," Adam said. "So I was more than happy to do it. I think they’d do it for me if it was the other way around."
Select Board member Eric Kelley said the incident was an example of the kind of community spirit residents want to see more often.
“These are positive things that we need more of in my opinion,” said Kelley.
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