Community
18 June, 2026
Local firefighters receive highest accolade
Berrima Rural Fire Service firefighter Stephen Cupitt is ‘grateful’ after having received the top award for service – the Commissioners Unit Citation for Service, recently.
Berrima Rural Fire Service firefighter Stephen Cupitt is ‘grateful’ after having received the top award for service – the Commissioners Unit Citation for Service, recently.
On the evening of August 30, 2024, Mr. Cupitt and his colleagues responded to a car fire on the Old Hume Highway at Berrima.
First on the scene, the crew of the Berrima Brigade Pumper located a man conscious on the ground outside the vehicle suffering significant burns to 90 to 100 percent of his torso.
“I put the car fire out, whilst the other 2 members from Berrima rendered first aid to the man,” Mr. Cupitt told The Southern Wire.
“Once the car was extinguished, I helped my team out and once the paramedics got there and did their stuff we helped load the gentlemen into the helicopter, then returned to the scene for the tow truck to pick up the car and for the police to do their investigation and we also provided the lighting for them.”
The crew initially used their live reel to cool the patient, but in the face of his strenuous objections and fearing he could go into shock, the crew instead began pouring cool water from water bottles on the patient.
Assisted by the crew of Mittagong 1, NSW Police and a bystander, the crew continued to cool the man for 20 to 30 minutes until NSW Ambulance crews arrived.
Mr. Cupitt was modest in his acceptance of the award.
“I think the man from the car was grateful for us to turn up to such a horrific and confronting scene, however that’s not why we do the job,” he said.
“I speak for my team in saying that we were just doing our job and helping the community. We don’t always seek recognition for what we do.”
NSW RFS Commissioner Trent Curtin praised Mr. Cupitt and the Berrima team for their efforts.
“Without training for such a rare circumstance, the crews made sound decisions to maximise the patient’s chance of survival, working carefully and effectively as a team in trying conditions,” the Commissioner said.
“The Berrima and Mittagong Brigades are recognised by the Commissioner’s Unit Citation for Service for their teamwork and resilience to assist a casualty in a confronting and difficult incident.”
Read More: Berrima, Southern Highlands, Mittagong