Two local firefighters who earned the highest rank as Boy Scouts were honored recently for helping to save the life of a co-worker.

Eagle Scouts Jeff Bialecki and John Mocarski, both serving at Murrells Inlet/Garden City Fire Department, were named that department’s “Firefighters of the Year” in December.

Their act of bravery took place on Saturday, June 4, 2011, just a day after they both graduated from high school.

While fighting a routine residential structure fire in Garden City, their colleague Captain Nick Juliano collapsed.

All of the firefighters and emergency personnel there dropped what they were doing to help him.

Bialecki and Mocarski helped give CPR and escorted Juliano to Waccamaw Community Hospital and then Georgetown Memorial Hospital after it was determined he had a heart attack, according to Chief Norman Knight, head of the fire department.

The two men reportedly revived Juliano multiple times.

‘They did their jobs’

Knight said Bialecki and Mocarski were honored for their actions because they did the job they were trained to do, without hesitation.

“Because it was one of our own who was in trouble, it would have been easy to get caught up in emotions and anxiety,” Knight said.

“They did their jobs, no more and no less.”

Bialecki and Mocarski say they were surprised to be singled out for the award since there were at least five people involved with saving Juliano’s life that day.

“I was very shocked,” Bialecki said. “Anybody who works here would have done the same thing.”

Mocarski agreed.

“It was honestly the quick actions of all of us together,” he said. “It was nothing that should have been just the two of us.”

Boy Scout training

Both credited their Boy Scout training for how they perform their duties as firefighters.

“Being an Eagle Scout has helped me with being able to get a task done,” Mocarski said. “It helped me learn to do things thoroughly, to follow through with everything I do.”

Bialecki said the Boy Scouts taught him the basics of growing up and the importance of having strong morals.

“The way we were brought up through Scouting, it shaped who we are today,” Bialecki said.

Knight said that it is remarkable that the two young men are Eagle Scouts.

“This is a perfect example of how the Boy Scouts can develop young men into viable leaders in the community,” he said.

Both young men say they plan to stay with the Murrells Inlet/Garden City Fire Department, at least for the foreseeable future.

By Clayton Stairs

cstairs@gtowntimes.com