Showing Their Valor: Bloomfield Firefighters Earn Award From 200 Club

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Several firefighters from Bloomfield recently earned a “Valor Award” from the Two Hundred Club of Essex County.

Bloomfield firefighters Thomas Laicona and Jacob Nicolaou and Captain David Parsons earned recognition as part of this year’s Valor Awards. According to the club, here’s why:

“Bloomfield Fire Department Firefighters Thomas Laicona and Jacob Nicolaou, and Captain David Parsons for jumping into about 5 feet of rapidly rising floodwaters, in full turnout gear to rescue a victim stuck in a car that was within 6 inches of being fully submerged underwater, where the victim would not have survived had it not been for their swift thinking and actions.”

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County, which was founded in 1966 to assist the families of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty, and is the oldest such organization of its kind, will hold its 56th Annual Valor Awards luncheon at Nanina’s in the Park, 540 Mill Street in Belleville on Tuesday, May 10. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact 973-694-4982.

This year, 28 police officers and 16 firefighters will be recognized for “bravery, dedication to duty, courageous vigilance and selflessness.”

Since the Valor Awards were not awarded in 2020 due to the pandemic, this year’s awards include actions taken in 2020 and 2021.

“While everyone was at home working virtually for the past two years because of the pandemic, these fine police officers, firefighters, and first responders did not have that luxury, they had to show up – the public expected them to show up, protect, and respond to their calls for service. Thankfully, and without regard to their own safety, they responded magnificently,” said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, a member of The Two Hundred Club’s Board of Trustees.

Nominations for The Two Hundred Club’s Valor Awards are made by the chiefs of Essex County’s municipal and fire departments and the commanding officers of federal, state, and regional public safety agencies. Valor Award recipients are selected by The Two Hundred Club’s Executive Committee.

Since its inception, The Two Hundred Club of Essex County has raised over $2 million to support the spouses of fallen officers and fund college scholarships for their children.

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