Two veteran East Windsor Township volunteer firefighters have been named the 2018 Firefighter of the Year by their respective volunteer fire companies.
Evan Dorfman, who belongs to East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, was named Firefighter of the Year by his company, and Fire Chief Mario Batista was named East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2 Firefighter of the Year by his fire company.
East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 is located at 51 One Mile Road, and East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2 is located at 69 Twin Rivers Drive.
The two firefighters were presented with proclamations signed by East Windsor Township Mayor Janice S. Mironov at the East Windsor Township Council’s Oct. 29 meeting. They were honored in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, which was held Oct. 6-12.
The mayoral proclamation recognized Dorfman and Batista, who were selected by their respective fire companies for their dedicated volunteer fire company service.
The proclamation expressed “deep appreciation for their special and invaluable contributions and extraordinary dedication.”
Mironov noted that Dorfman and Batista have devoted countless hours to public service, which has earned them “much respect from fire company members and the entire East Windsor community.”
Dorfman has been a volunteer firefighter since 1991, when he joined East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2. He served in that fire company for six years and then transferred to East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 when he moved into that fire district in 1997.
Dorfman has served as an engineer, trustee, fire police lieutenant and vice president of East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. He has served on numerous fire company committees, including the membership committee, the special events committee and the Santa open house committee.
During 2018, he responded to 299 calls and attended 27 training drills. He also attended numerous company work details and meetings, Mironov said.
Dorfman also helped to save a man’s life in an incident that occurred on Dec. 11, 2018 at the Melvin H. Kreps Middle School during a school performance.
Along with others at the school, he jumped into action to perform cardiopulminary resuscitation (CPR) and used an automated external defibrillator to save the man’s life, Mironov said.
Dorfman’s diligent efforts responding to calls and participating in company business, combined with his excellent efforts in all aspects of his service, have contributed enormously to the success of the fire company, Mironov said.
Batista joined East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2 in 2004. He was appointed acting fire chief in October 2016 and then elected as fire chief two months later.
Batista has dedicated himself to helping others in times of crisis, Mironov said. He has been involved in emergency services, including fire and emergency medical services, for 37 years.
Batista assisted in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center in New York City following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He has served as the multi-agency coordinator for the New Jersey EMS Task Force.
He also serves on New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1, Mironov said. He served several deployments with the New Jersey EMS Task Force and the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 during superstorm Sandy in 2012; the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013; the pope’s visit in 2015; and Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017.
In 2018, Batista responded to 1,071 fire calls and participated in more than 180 drills, Mironov said.
“Mario Batista’s tireless efforts responding to calls, participating in drills and undertaking leadership roles demonstrates his heartfelt commitment to East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2,” Mironov said.
