WORCESTER — Michael Medeiros has little memory of the fire that almost killed him in July.

The retired electrician knows he got a milk delivery, then heard a smoke alarm inside his Swansea home. A burning sensation filled his eyes and throat.

Medeiros, 65, can’t remember what happened next. But he knows he owes his life to volunteer firefighters who charged into his burning home and got him out alive.

On Tuesday, three of those firefighters received medals of valor during a ceremony at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

“They saved my life,’’ Medeiros said. “I thought I owed it to them to be here.’’

The Swansea firefighters, Patrick J. Burke, Lieutenant Brett M. Medeiros, and Captain Michael J. Patterson, were among more than 50 current and retired fire officials honored for heroism, community service, and leadership during the annual “Firefighter of the Year’’ awards.

The honors, presented by Governor Charlie Baker, also recognized firefighters in Boston, Lynn, Fitchburg, Watertown, Weymouth, Scituate, Malden, Saugus, and Hyannis.

Baker said the firefighters were honored for doing what “every single member of the fire service would have done if they had been in that situation.’’

“It is a calling,’’ Baker said. “We’re here to honor those folks who heard the call, responded to it, and dealt quickly and professionally, and with kindness and courage, on behalf of their fellow citizens.’’

Former state fire marshal Stephen Coan, who retired in January, was recognized for a career that spanned more than three decades and saw him work to improve firefighter training, establish a law requiring carbon monoxide alarms in homes, and educate the public about fire safety.

“Massachusetts is a safer state because of Steve Coan,’’ said state Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “Like all the other members of the fire service being honored today, he would tell you he was just doing his job and nothing more.’’

In an interview, Coan said he established the annual awards ceremony 27 years ago.

“I’m just awestruck by the heroism that is exhibited by our firefighters,’’ he said.

Boston firefighters were recognized in nearly every category. Deputy Fire Chief Gregory J. Mackin, who leads a unit that protects fire personnel from the cancer risks they face on the job, received a leadership award.

The highest award, the medal of valor, was presented to 12 firefighters, including four from Lynn who were the first to arrive at a house fire that killed four members of a family on Dec. 4, 2015.

Lynn Fire Lieutenant William Fritz said he and firefighter Brett Johnson had to enter the burning home through a back door because flames had consumed the front entrance.

On the second floor, Fritz said, he heard the muffled cries of a woman trapped under furniture in the living room.

“I just dropped and said, ‘I hear it!’ and went straight towards the sound,’’ Fritz said. “Just on the other side of the doorway, we found the first victim.’’

Firefighters found a second woman directly behind the first person they rescued, Fritz said. Both women survived.

Fritz said he was humbled by the award.

“It’s nice to be honored by our own,’’ he said. “It’s what we do. We don’t look for a lot of recognition.’’

Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin D. Roy was presented with a medal of valor, and 16 other Fitchburg firefighters were cited for “meritorious conduct,’’ for their efforts in battling a house fire that killed two sisters in February.

The blaze broke out one street from Roy’s home. Roy said he heard the report of a building fire on the scanner around 1 a.m. and drove to the home. He is credited with rescuing Steven Oikelmus, the sole survivor of the fire, who was found unconscious on the second floor.

“It was a group effort,’’ Roy said. “Obviously, we wished we had saved more people.’’

Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @lauracrimaldi.