Firefighter of the Year

2019 Winner

Jason Bernfeld

Melville Fire Department

The morning of March 12, 2018, Third Assistant Chief Jason Bernfeld was traveling westbound on the Northern State Parkway. He observed what he believed to be the taillight of a vehicle that had driven off the road.

He immediately stopped his vehicle and confirmed that it was an overturned vehicle that had slid down the embankment and into a tree. Bernfeld saw that the driver was still inside the vehicle, so he entered through the broken rear window to help.

Upon entering the vehicle, he saw that it was on fire and that the driver was being burned on his legs. Bernfeld, who grew up in Melville and has been with the department in some capacity since he first joined as a teen, returned to his vehicle and grabbed a fire extinguisher and seatbelt cutter.

He was able to knock back the flames and cut the seatbelt from the driver. Bernfeld then dragged the occupant out of the vehicle through the rear window to the embankment.

Shortly after removing the driver from the vehicle, it became completely engulfed in flames. The fire was
extinguished by about two dozen Melville firefighters, who arrived at the scene with two engines, two ambulances, a heavy rescue truck, paramedics and another Chief. The driver was transported to Nassau University Medical Center for treatment of cuts, pain to his neck and back, and leg burns.

Bernfeld undoubtedly prevented the death of the driver.

ADAPTED FROM A NOMINATION BY CHRIS NOLAN, MELVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF

Honor your outstanding volunteers with a nomination for the FASNY Firefighter of the Year Award sponsored by VFIS. Each year, FASNY recognizes its bravest members with this prestigious honor designated for those who exemplify what the fire service and protecting our communities is all about.

Past Award Recipients