Crime & Safety

Roxborough Resident Named Philadelphia Firefighter Of The Year

​Firefighter Joseph Rippert was named the Firefighter of the Year Wednesday for saving a man from a Roxborough home that was on fire.

Philadelphia ​Firefighter and Roxborough resident ​Joseph Rippert (left) is presented with the Firefighter of the Year award by Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel (right).
Philadelphia ​Firefighter and Roxborough resident ​Joseph Rippert (left) is presented with the Firefighter of the Year award by Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel (right). (Philadelphia Fire Department)

ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Fire Department presented one of its members with the Firefighter of the Year award for his heroic deeds in Roxborough.

Philadelphia Firefighter and Roxborough resident Joseph Rippert was named the Firefighter of the Year Wednesday.

Rippert rescued a man from a burning house in Roxborough while off-duty in last spring after being awakened by screams, the fire department said.

Find out what's happening in Roxborough-Manayunkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After going out to see what was happening, Rippert learned someone was trapped in the house then ran into it and found an unconscious man, identified as Paolo Gambaro.

Rippert was overwhelmed by the smoke and left the house, but went back in and carried the man out of the house.

Find out what's happening in Roxborough-Manayunkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rippert, who joined the department less than two years ago, stayed on scene to help carry hose lines with responding fire companies, the fire department said.

"He doesn’t realize what he did for me," Gambaro said at Wednesday's ceremony. "He was just doing his duty, in his eyes. But for me, he gave me a second chance at life."

Rippert said Wednesday that any gratitude should be directed toward his instructors at the Fire Academy.

"I wouldn’t be here or have known what to do if it wasn’t for them," Rippert said. "I still have a lot to learn."

Rippert, a former member of the U.S. Army, is a married father of two young children and is a carpenter by trade.

He is assigned to Engine 35 in East Falls.


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