Even when he was on vacation, Island Park Fire Department Captain Joe Bitetto’s instinct to protect others never took a break.
Bitetto, a Barnum Isle resident, was walking across Mirror Lake, in upstate Lake Placid, with his fiancé, Megan Walsh, on Dec. 20, watching dogsleds race around the lake. As they were making their way across the ice, a family of three just steps ahead of them suddenly fell through the ice near the shoreline.
Without hesitating, Bitetto sprang into action. He immediately told Walsh to get to solid ground, then positioned himself safely on land and reached toward the family.
“I grabbed the child and the mother first, then we got the father out,” he recounted. “It all happened very fast.”
The rescue was over almost as quickly as it began. Though shaken, the family escaped without serious injury.
“They were cold and wet, but they were OK,” Bitetto said. “I told them to get somewhere warm and dry off.”
Bitetto has served in the IPFD since 2016. He credits his training — and a sense of responsibility for others’ safety — for his calm response. “When there’s an emergency, you assess the situation and make sure you can help without putting yourself in danger,” he said. “The last thing you want is to become part of the emergency.”
Though he was off duty, Bitetto said his mindset never changes. “It’s about stepping up and doing the right thing,” he said. “If I were in that situation, I’d hope someone would do the same for me.”
Staying calm, he added, is critical — especially when there are children involved.
“The little kid was screaming when she got out of the water,” Bitetto recalled. “I stayed calm, talked to her, asked if she was OK. I think if I was anxious, it would have made it worse.”
Bitetto downplayed his role, saying that anyone in his situation would have done the same. Local leaders strongly disagreed.
At its meeting on Jan. 15, the village board presented him with a village citation and a key to the village in acknowledgement of his heroism and his commitment to public service.
“His quick, decisive actions saved lives and demonstrated the courage and professionalism that define the Island Park Fire Department,” Mayor Michael McGinty said. “We are proud to honor him for his extraordinary service.”
Michael Gagliardi, a trustee and a former fire chief, echoed those sentiments, calling the rescue a textbook example of leadership.
“When emergencies happen, true firefighters act on instinct,” Gagliardi said. “Captain Bitetto did exactly that — even while on vacation. His actions are a testament to his leadership, training and dedication to the department.”
The Town of Hempstead also honored Bitetto at this year’s inauguration ceremony for town officials on Jan. 7 at Division Avenue High School, in Levittown. Town Supervisor John Ferretti and members of the Town Board recognized Bitetto for his lifesaving actions.
“It’s a nice feeling, and I appreciate it,” Bitetto said. “But at the end of the day, I was just trying to help people who were in distress. Everyone was safe, and that’s what matters.”
For Bitetto, service is second nature. “It’s just something that’s embedded in you,” he said. “Always trying to give an extra helping hand.”
