A New Bedford firefighter died of a medical emergency while on duty at the fire station on Thursday.

Matthew E. Forand, 45, was a father of two children and had received several awards for saving people during his time as a firefighter.

“On behalf of the New Bedford Fire Department and all of our members, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Matt’s family and loved ones, especially his two children,” Fire Chief Scott Kruger wrote on Facebook. “I also want to assure them of the fire department’s support during this time of grief. This is an indescribable loss for them, for his fellow firefighters, and for our community.”

Forand graduated from the New Bedford Firefighting Academy in 2006. In 2014, he received the Medal of Valor at the Firefighter of the Year Awards for rescuing an unconscious person from the second floor of a burning building on Dartmouth Street, according to the fire chief. In March 2023, he also received a Unit Citation as a member of Engine Co. 6 for his part in fighting the Royal Crown Apartment fire.

Many people expressed their condolences on social media.

“Thanks for teaching me. We had a great time in that truck. We’ll miss you my friend. We’re taking care of it now,” wrote Ryan Lemieux.

“Matthew Forand is and will remain a hero to our community in every sense of the word. Firefighter Forand embodied everything that is great about New Bedford and may his memory be a blessing to us all,” wrote Ian Abreu.