Captain Michael Bailey and Firefighters Ron Catania and Rich LoMonte received a Fire Service Award for Valor from the New Jersey State Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) at the organization’s 2008 awards ceremony held on April 26, at the Pines Manor in Edison, New Jersey. The three men accepted the Group Effort Award for their exemplary actions at the scene of an August 2007 fire on Church Street in Montclair.

“Montclair Township is very proud of Captain Bailey and Firefighters Catania and Lo Monte,” said Township Manager Joseph Hartnett. “These brave individuals demonstrated exceptional courage and an unwavering commitment to save the lives of four people despite the danger to themselves.”

On August 19, 2007, Captain Bailey and Firefighters Catania and LoMonte responded to a 4:26 a.m. alarm to a fire that broke out in the apartments above the Christian Science Reading Room, a three-story wood frame building located at 74 Church Street in Montclair. Five companies responded to the blaze.

Four people climbed out onto outer roofs of the building to escape the blaze while the fire and heavy smoke engulfed the second floor. Captain Bailey and his crew quickly assessed the conditions and began rescue operations. A 16-foot ladder was raised to the first floor roof where Bailey, Catania and LoMonte helped the four building occupants jump off the roofs and led them to safety.

“Captain Bailey and Firefighters Catania and Lo Monte unselfishly risked their lives to turn an extremely dangerous situation into a successful rescue operation,” said Hartnett.