Firefighters Honored For Acts Of Valor

They were just doing their job.

But for the over 100 firefighters who gathered last night for the 2011 Valor Awards Banquet, they went above and beyond the call of duty as they rescued people from burning buildings, huge ocean waves, and helped resuscitate people near death. Notable civilians who performed acts of bravery or supported firefighters were also honored.

“Their feats of heroism are remarkable,” said Christopher Lukenda, chairman of the Valor Awards, referring to the firefighters. The awards were sponsored by the New Jersey State Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association or NJ F.M.B.A., the state firefighters’ union, of which Lukenda is a member.

The award ceremony was held at the Edison banquet hall, Pines Manor, and started off with cocktail hour and remarks by officials.

“Tonight we recognize some of the most amazing selfless acts of courage and human decency that our profession is best known for,” said William J. Lavin, president of the NJ F.M.B.A., in a statement.

A U.S. Marine Corps color guard and a pipes and drum band made up of Union County police officers and firefighters ushered in the honorees. who hail from all over New Jersey - from East Orange to Wildwood.

As awards were given out, honorees, their families, and supporters had a sit down dinner in the banquet hall which was bedecked with ice sculptures, chandeliers, and dramatic lighting.

Here are some of the honored firefighters and their stories:

Cranford:

Captain William Merwede and firefighters John Dillon, Chris Vollero, and Ed Wallace were honored for a rescue on March 14, 2010 when they went to Roselle on a mutual aid response and helped rescue a child who was clinging to a tree in the Rahway River, according to the NJ F.M.B.A. The child was in six feet of water but was rescued by the firefighters.

The participating firefighters were honored with a Special Recognition Award, but they were not at the banquet to receive them last night, officials from the NJ F.M.B.A. said.

Belleville:
Lt. Scott Wentworth and Firefighter Dennis Ives were honored for a Nov. 10, 2010 rescue of a wheelchair bound man from a basement that was ablaze, NJ F.M.B.A. officials said.

On that day, firefighters arrived at a two-story apartment where a fire had broken out in a basement storage area, according to officials. Meanwhile, a man in a wheelchair cried for help because he was trapped in his basement apartment, which was rapidly filling with black smoke.

Wentworth and Ives made their way into the apartment but were stymied from rescuing the man because of “smoke, fire and hose lines blocking their path,” said officials. Wentworth lent the man use of his oxygen mask as Ives found a basement window.

The man was finally pushed through the window and rescued. All he suffered was some smoke inhalation.

For their bravery, Wentworth and Ives received the Bronze Medal of Valor. Four tables of supporters cheered them on at the ceremony.

“They did a hell of a job,” said Stanley Depczek, a Belleville Fire Battalion Chief, who was supervisor during the rescue. “As an incident commander, it makes my job easier.”

Wentworth and Ives were humbled by the award.

“It’s another day at the office,” Ives said.

“We were at the right place and the right time,” Wentworth said.

Springfield:

Two groups of firefighters from Springfield were honored with awards for feats of heroism.

In the first incident, on April 17, 2010, Captain James Anagnos and firefighters Walter Heckel, Stewart Jurczak, Joseph Popolo, and Altay Vigilante barged into a burning second floor apartment, where a fire engulfed the kitchen, officials said. Because of the heavy smoke, the firefighters used a thermal imaging camera and were able to rescue a sleeping resident in a bedroom.

For that rescue, the four men were given a Special Recognition Award.

“It’s nice to be recognized for doing a nice job,” said Jurczak.

The firefighters also recognized Anagnos who was not present at the ceremony.

“My captain is a great man, great guy to work,” said Heckel, who also noted that Anagnos was closing in on his 25th year as a firefighter. “He’s an absolute pleasure to work for. And he’s helped so many people.”

In the second incident on May 27, 2010, Anagnos, Heckel and Firefighter Patrick Federico reported to Saint James Catholic School where they found an unconscious 10-year-old boy, officials said.

The men worked quickly. They pumped his chest, attached an airbag to his mouth, and then shocked him with a automatic external defibrillator, officials said.

After four minutes of intense work, the men detected a weak heart beat in the child, officials said. The boy was transported to a hospital, where he was released a few days later.

For that incident, Anagnos, Heckel and Federico were honored with the Group Effort Award for a medical rescue. This was the second recognition for Anagnos at the same event. This was also the third Valor Award for Heckel, who was honored for rescuing a man from a burning car a few years ago, he said.

Federico said he acted with robot-like efficiency during the incident.

“I just did what I had to do,” he said.

Westfield:

Firefighter Lou Cerchio was honored with the Lifesaving Award for a rescue on Sept. 19, 2010 when he saved a woman and her child from strong oceans waves, remnants of Hurricane Igor, near Point Pleasant Beach, officials said.

Cerchio, who was off duty, was at the beach with his family when he heard that people were being dragged into the ocean, officials said. A mother and her son were felled by two waves, one after the other, and were swept into the choppy waters.

Cerchio, who was a lifeguard at that same beach 10 years ago, quickly sprung into action and swam after them, officials said.

“Cerchio kept them afloat, calmed them, and reassured them,” read a report released by the NJ F.M.B.A.

He then led them back to shore, officials said.

“It’s amazing to be honored by my peers,” he said.

Cerchio has a varied background. After his lifeguard stint, he was a middle school health and physical education teacher from 1997 to 2003, he said. He then became a firefighter seven years ago.

When asked what’s the similarities between being a teacher and a firefighter, Cerchio said, “They should both be public role models.”