Nine from Rockville Centre Fire Department honored for life-saving work

Nine members of the Rockville Centre Fire Department — Second Assistant Chief John Thorp, Captain Kimberly Martino, Firefighter/AEMT Gail Atlas-Goodman, Firefighter/AEMT Joseph Howard, Firefighter/EMT Pierre Hourani, Firemedic/EMT Margaret Nelson, Firefighter James Neitz Sr., Lieutenant Joseph Martino and Firefighter/EMT Remy Jean-Francios were honored at a special Firematic Award ceremony hosted by the Town of Hempstead on Oct. 21. They were among 32 individuals recognized for their courage and dedication in protecting local communities.

“Firefighters make significant sacrifices and put their lives on the line every day to protect people and their property,” said TOH Supervisor Kate Murray. “What makes the activities of our talented honorees so compelling is the fact that they volunteer, giving of their personal time, to ensure that our residents are safe.”

Many of this year’s recipients were honored for heroic deeds performed during the normal course of their day. “This only highlights the humanity and public-spiritedness these special individuals embrace,” said Murray.

Saving lives has always been at the forefront of the firematic vocation. For a firefighter, saving lives doesn’t always involve fighting fires. Medical emergencies make up a large percentage of the emergency calls answered by the volunteer firefighters.

The nine Rockville Centre volunteer firefighters who received the 2010 Firematic Award were involved in a live-saving rescue that required teamwork, everyone knowing their job and then doing it perfectly. Executing seamless coordination, they saved the life of a man in cardiac arrest.