On October 8^th, members of the South Bergen Fire Chiefs Association assembled at Hasbrouck Heights Fire Headquarters  for their meeting and annual award ceremonies.  Recognized this year were members of the Saddle Brook and Elmwood Park Fire Departments.

A Unit Citation of Merit was awarded to Saddle Brook Chief Jason Sibani, Battalion Chief Gary Gilfoy. Captain Jason Labarbera, Lt. Mike Vasport, ex-Chief Antghony Halko and ex-Chief Christopher Sloma.

Fire units were dispatched to Kessler Rehab center for a report of an elevator entrapment.  Assistant Chief Dave Mielnicki and Chief Sibani arrived and found the elevator stuck between the first and second floors.  They observed a victim's arm and leg trapped between the car and the shaft wall.  Rescue 1 officers. B.C. Gilfoy, Capt. Labarbera and Lt. Vasport devised a plan to extricate the victim.  After Ladder 3 members secured the power, the officers went to the second-floor and, under poor visibility, they located the trap door on top of the elevator car. Ex-Chief Halko secured petzl escape system to a steel beam above the car, and repelled down into the car.  Ex-Chief Sloma utilized a pencil ladder to make entry into the car. 

In the car, they found an elderly male lying face down on the floor with his arm and a severely bleeding leg trapped between the car and the shaft.  Sloma placed two torniquets to the leg to stop the bleeding. Rescue 1 members utilized an airbag and Hurst Tool between the car and shaft, allowing the arm to be freed and bandaged.  A portable Hurst Tool spreader was lowered into the car and Slome was able to break some concrete wall, giving them enough room to remove the victim's leg.  Once freed, the victim was secured to a fast board and hosted out of the elevator.

As the crew exited the car, a second break failure occurred, and the uncontrolled elevator rose to the fourth-floor at a rapid rate. 

A Unit Citation of Merit was also awarded to Elmwood Park Captain Steve Kochik, Firefighter Melissa Mannarino and ex-Chief's Ken Pressler, Ron Pressler and Mike Pressler.  

Local firefighters were dispatched to a fire at the Town House Inn & Suites on Route 46.  A victim was located at a rear second-floor window.  Engine Co. 1 arrived and was directed  to the rear of the building for rescue operations. Capt. Kochik used a circular saw to cut through and gain entry of a fence that surrounded the motel.  Once cut, FF Mannarino and Ron Pressler acquired a ground ladder and placed it below the windowsill. Ken Prerssler footed the ladder as Mannarino climbed same.  When she got to the top of the ladder, the victim went back into the smoke filled room to gather personal items.  

At this point, Mannarino decided to break a jammed window and clear out the glass with a 6-foot hook.  She then directed and assisted the victim down the ladder, resulting is a successful rescue.  The victim was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation.  FF Mannarino suffered cuts and was also taken to the hospital.  

Ex-Chief Mike Pressler performed multiple tasks throughout the fire scene while the rescue was being performed.  This was all done within six-minutes.