Making a difference
Saving lives in Wildwood
Archived article from Sep 28, 2001
By Douglas Frank
Rich Kosmoski, assistant manager of operations for the division of housing on the College Avenue campus, made a difference in the lives of a Wildwood mother and her two children.
While vacationing in the seaside resort, he led them from a burning building to safety.
A firefighter in Sayreville when he is not working for Rutgers, Kosmoski spotted smoke coming from an apartment window across the street from a motel where he and his wife were staying. After telling his wife to call 911, Kosmoski investigated.
He scaled a 6-foot wall and entered the building through a back door. He found the burning unit, forced the door open and was immediately engulfed in heavy, black acrid smoke originating from a fire in the refrigerator.
With neither breathing apparatus nor protective clothing, he crawled through the apartment looking for occupants. Finding none, he then ran to another apartment where he found the three and led them to safety through the smoke-filled hall and stairs.
He has been cited by seven organizations, including the VFW, the Borough of Sayreville and the state Legislature, for his heroism and bravery. His citations include the Medal of Valor from the American Legion department of New Jersey, along with the "200 Club Firefighter of the Year Award" from Atlantic and Cape May counties.
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