Roland “RJ” Williams (left) and Robert McDermott received their meritorious service awards from the Gloucester County Fire Chiefs Association.
Firefighters Roland “RJ” Williams and Lt. Robert McDermott of the Oak Valley Fire Department each received a meritorious award for service at the 58th annual Gloucester County Fire Chiefs Association Awards banquet on Jan. 9.
The award is most often given to a firefighter who saves a life in a situation that could cause harm to others. Williams and McDermott did just that during a call on Oct. 7, when they and other firefighters responded to a blaze in the area of Tarpy Drive and Lehman Avenue.
They found an unidentified man in a burning homeless encampment nearby whose pants were on fire, according to a press release. He survived the ordeal with some burn injuries, but initially resisted rescue efforts, according to Fire Chief Richard Thomas.
“Both McDermott and Williams immediately went to the male to remove him from the fire and to put his clothes out,” said Thomas. “This male became extremely combative and was resisting the rescue efforts of McDermott and Williams. Finally, the male’s clothing fire was put out he was removed from the fire area and turned over to the Deptford police officers who were arriving on location.”
McDermott and Williams were congratulated for their bravery by their fellow firefighters before the county weighed in.
“They have been members of the department for years,” said Thomas. “They’re well-respected by their peers and are hard workers.”
Some of those peers were at the banquet, including the Public Safety Tele-Communicator of the Year for 2024, dispatcher Bryan Richards. The event began with a memorial service for firefighters who passed away last year and also included the swearing-in of the association’s 2025 officers.
