Summit Firefighters Honored For Saving 12 Families

SUMMIT, NJ - On New Year's Eve 12 families lost their homes, but no one lost their lives thanks in part to the Summit Fire Department who were recognized for their efforts on Oct. 25.

The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center honored the Summit Fire Department for its rescue efforts at the December 31, 2017 fire in Summit by distributing medals of valor.

On arrival at the scene, at an apartment building on 126 Summit Ave., fire department personnel were met with heavy fire conditions throughout the building and made multiple rescues of occupants trapped on second and third floors.

Firefighters rescued multiple residents through windows and two people were transported to Overlook Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries said Amy Cairns, Summit spokesman. The fire was reported at 5:13 a.m. and firefighters were able to get it under control at 7:14 a.m., Cairns said.

Although 12 families lost homes that night, no life-threatening injuries were sustained by either the occupants or firefighters during the incident.

The Summit Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Summit Police Department and the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad. Assistance for the five alarm fire was provided by Union County Mutual Aid with Millburn, Springfield, Mountainside, Union, Fanwood, New Providence, Kenilworth, Scotch Plains, Berkeley Heights and Roselle Park fire departments responding.

(From left, Summit Fire Department members Firefighter Brian Tavis, Firefighter Christopher Esposito, Firefighter Dwight Nichols, Firefighter Gabriel Iannella, Lieutenant James Pignatello, and Battalion Chief Henry Clint Evers. Also honored by Saint Barnabas Medical Center but not pictured are Millburn Fire Department members Firefighter Michael Pershyn, Firefighter Augustine Muresan, Captain Bernard Cunningham. Photo courtesy of the Summit Fire Department)

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