Atlantic County Honors 5 Firefighters Who Saved Lives

When flames tore through a four-story rooming house in Atlantic City last July, Firefighter Joseph Reitzler didn't hesitate to climb a ladder to the top floor and pull a terrified resident to safety. His rescue is one of five dramatic saves being honored at the Harold J. "Whitey" Swartz Valor Awards this week.

The ceremony at the Anthony "Tony" Canale Fire Training Center in Egg Harbor Township recognizes extraordinary courage from first responders across Atlantic County. Each award represents someone who is alive today because a firefighter or police officer chose to risk everything.

In Pomona, volunteer firefighters Lt. Matthew Dempsey and Shane McNew rushed into a mobile home filled with thick black smoke without even a hose line for protection. They found an unconscious man in the bathroom and carried him out just in time.

Egg Harbor Township Police Officers Gary Johnson and Chad Fraser kicked down a bedroom door to wake an 82-year-old woman who had no idea flames were consuming her home. The officers carried her to safety moments before the fire spread to her room.

In Oceanville, Firefighters Nicholas Stewart and John Parker searched through heavy smoke and fire to find a 60-year-old man unconscious on the second floor of his burning condo. They carried him down the stairs, and he was airlifted to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Why This Inspires

Volunteer firefighters make up most of these heroes, responding from home, jobs, and family events for no pay. Fire Chief Gary Dooner Jr. said it best: when volunteer crews make a save, it's monumental because they're already fighting uphill just to get there.

The ceremony also honors seven firefighters who have served their communities for more than 50 years, proving that commitment to neighbors never goes out of style.

Six people are celebrating life today because these first responders chose to run toward danger when everyone else ran away.