Summit Firefighter Who Saved Elderly Resident In Crash Promoted

SUMMIT, NJ - A longtime Summit firefighter who was recognized in 2018 for his life saving efforts in a serious crash has been promoted, city officials said.

Surrounded by members of the Summit Fire Department, Firefighter Chris Esposito was promoted to the Lieutenant rank at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting.

Esposito was previously recognized by the city as recipient of the Chief of Police Special Recognition Award for saving an elderly resident while off-duty in 2018. Esposito was reportedly driving on Broad Street when the resident was struck by a vehicle; Esposito rendered medical aid and applied a tourniquet to the victim until first responders arrived.

“He exhibited professionalism and compassion all while providing critical, life saving treatment,” the Summit Police Department said in a statement. “We’re honored to have such an excellent relationship with not only the emergency service agencies that serve Summit - but also the friendships we’ve built with all the first responders.”

As a lieutenant, Esposito is now responsible for safety of personnel, platoon level training, fire code inspections, and administrative duties including writing incident reports and scheduling time off/overtime, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Esposito previously served as a dispatcher and firefighter in Berkeley Heights before joining Summit’s fire department in 2012. He’s currently the executive delegate for the Summit firefighters’ union and the state secretary of the New Jersey firefighters’ union, per his LinkedIn profile.