Six Jersey City Firefighters Receive Valor Awards
The Burn Center honored six Jersey City firefighters at its 39th Annual Valor Awards, including a rescue from a Summit Avenue fire.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Emergency Response
Six Jersey City firefighters received The Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center's 39th Annual Valor Awards. Firefighter Brian Jankowski was among the honorees for rescuing an elderly woman and her son from a Summit Avenue fire on March 11, 2026.
Why it matters
The Valor Award recognizes extreme actions that go above and beyond the call of duty. The honors highlight the risks firefighters take during residential fires in Jersey City.
The awards were presented at the 39th edition of the Valor Awards, honoring six firefighters. The source does not report the number of residents rescued or injuries beyond smoke inhalation.
The players
The Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
The Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center is a burn treatment center in New Jersey that presents the annual Valor Awards to firefighters.
Brian Jankowski
Brian Jankowski is a Jersey City firefighter who rescued an elderly woman and her son from a Summit Avenue fire.
The details
Firefighter Brian Jankowski located an elderly woman in a wheelchair and her son on the second floor of a Summit Avenue building where the stairway was blocked by fire. He exited through a window onto a porch roof and used an aerial ladder to bring both to the ground.
Timeline
March 11, 2026: Jersey City Rescue Company 1 responded to the Summit Avenue fire.
October 2026: The Valor Awards ceremony was held at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.
Big Picture
The Valor Awards have been presented for 39 consecutive editions by The Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, recognizing firefighters whose actions exceed normal duty. Recognition programs like this one document the rescue work performed by firefighters during residential fires.
Residents of Jersey City can see how firefighters respond to residential fires, including rescues from upper floors. The recognition underscores that firefighters may use aerial ladders and window exits when stairways are blocked.
The takeaway
Residents should keep exits clear and know alternative escape routes, since the Summit Avenue rescue shows stairways can become blocked by fire. Firefighters honored at the Valor Awards demonstrate how quickly rescues can be carried out under these conditions.
Further reading
Explore more emergency response coverage on Jersey City firefighter operations and rescues.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hudson County View.
