ROBERT BIELAN, A BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY FIREFIGHTER, has just been awarded a Distinguished Service Award from the BFD at the Medals Day ceremonies on May 26.

FF Robert Bielan
(NJCU photo)

On June 4, 2007, Bielan was off duty and traveling in his personal auto to a training session at Lakehurst Naval Station when he came upon an accident on the Garden State Parkway.  A van carrying six passengers had struck a guardrail and overturned. 

Bielan stopped and, since he had his personal running gear with him for the training class, donned his protective clothing and began rescue efforts, first stabilizing the van and then the victims, some of whom were killed in the crash.  After the emergency crews arrived on the scene, FF Bielan returned to his own car and left without leaving his name.  The State Police tracked him down and later wrote a special commendation for him to the Bayonne FD.

Bielan is quoted:

“The honors are nice and I appreciate the recognition from the Bayonne Fire Department, but I did what any other professional emergency responder would do.  When situations happen, being a fireman, cop or anyone else with specialty training, there are only a handful of people who are in high pressure situations and constantly know how to react. Most people in their daily lives are not routinely in emergency situations. The fire department trained me to react and save lives and even when you’re off duty, you’re a fireman 24/7. I was trained by the best.”

“Someone once said ‘Bad things happen when good people stand idly by.’ As a firefighter, we are trained to save lives and property, and it’s a part of you to help people. That day I was put there for a reason. I look at it like the “pay it forward” philosophy. Everyone would hope that if you had a friend or family member that needed help someone would help them.”

FF Bielan, 38, has worked for the Bayonne FD since 1995 and also coaches the women’s soccer team at nearby New Jersey City University where he has built a winning team since taking the reins two years ago.

The NJCU Athletics department posted a good article about him on the school’s website and you can read it HERE.

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