Firefighters honoured for bravery on St Florian’s Day
Published: 04 May 2026 10:25am
A firefighter who risked his life to save a toddler trapped inside a burning building is among those today being honoured at a Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) awards ceremony in Sydney.
Fire crews responded to a blaze in Stanbrook Street, Fairfield Heights on 21 December 2024, and were told a two-year-old was unaccounted for.
Wearing breathing apparatus, Qualified Firefighter Michael Stipanovic entered the house under hazardous conditions and found the toddler in a bedroom filled with heavy smoke.
Acting decisively, the firefighter rescued the child before returning to help suppress the blaze.
Qualified Firefighter Stipanovic has been presented with a Commendation for Meritorious Service on St Florian’s Day, which marks International Firefighters’ Day and recognises the courage and skill of operational and non-operational members who selflessly serve the community.
Crews from several Western Sydney stations will receive the same honour after their involvement in a fierce fire started by an e-bike's lithium-ion battery inside a Merrylands unit on 16 January 2025
Firefighters from Wentworthville, Parramatta, Seven Hills and Yennora responded to the incident, which trapped residents inside the three-storey building in Arcadia Street and exposed them to toxic smoke.
In the extreme heat and zero visibility of the developing lithium-ion battery fire, the crews searched the building.
They rescued a woman and her dog from her burning unit, as well as elderly residents who could not escape on their own.
Using an aerial platform to reach the residents, the officers displayed exemplary teamwork and skill to prevent the fire from spreading.
Today’s ceremony has also recognised the life-saving efforts of crews during major incidents.
Station Officer Derek Stratton and community member Marcus Smith have received a Commendation for Meritorious Service after they rescued 40 people, including a newborn and several animals during the catastrophic Northern Rivers floods on 1 March 2022.
Station Officer Stratton, who was off duty at the time, and Mr Smith carried out the Woodburn rescue operation in a small tinnie over seven hours. The pair navigated dangerous debris to reach trapped residents as rapidly rising waters threatened homes.
Others to receive St Florian’s Day awards, in honour of the Patron Saint of Firefighters, include:
- A crew from Bega which assisted residents during a firestorm that engulfed the village of Quaama in December 2019. The firefighters effectively established protection lines around a shed where locals were sheltering and calmly fought the fire as it passed, possibly preventing multiple casualties.
- Crews which attended a terrifying incident after a 20-tonne tree crushed a vehicle under live, high-voltage powerlines at Katoomba in July 2019. The firefighters, alongside Blue Mountains Police Rescue members also recognised today, battled freezing temperatures and violent winds during the complex rescue. Unfortunately, one of the car’s occupants died but the crews safely extricated the critically injured driver.
- Senior Firefighter Peter Martin, who has led the development and rollout of a lithium-ion battery education program for secondary schools, tertiary institutions and workplaces.
- Crews which used an inflatable rescue boat to save a 14-year-old boy who was trapped and at risk of falling into dangerous currents at Penrith Weir in April 2025.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib:
“These awards are our chance to acknowledge the efforts of those who have gone above and beyond for fellow members of their community.
“From helping people escape burning buildings to carrying out complicated and hazardous swift-water rescue operations, the actions that have led to these awards were extraordinary.”
Quotes attributable to FRNSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM:
“While our firefighters don’t seek accolades, it’s important to formally acknowledge their heroism and its impact on community members on an occasion like St Florian’s Day.”
Media note: Footage of the Merrylands West rescue can be found here: https://vimeo.com/1047348410/f2b1e8386d and FRNSW Go Pro footage here: https://vimeo.com/1047429484/c49071c1c6
Updated: 04 May 2026 2:35pm