Two members of the Lakewood Fire Department were recognized Thursday evening by the 200 Club of Ocean County for their life-saving actions during a residential fire earlier this year.
Lieutenant Robert Cook and Probationary Firefighter Andrew Sanchez were presented with the Life-Saving Award during the club’s annual awards dinner on June 12, 2025. The honor is given to first responders who take direct action to preserve life during emergency incidents.
The recognition stems from a fire that occurred on March 16 at an assisted living facility on Route 70. According to officials, Lt. Cook and Firefighter Sanchez were the first interior crew to arrive and entered a burning apartment filled with heavy smoke and heat. Inside, they discovered a woman in bed who was unable to evacuate on her own. The firefighters safely rescued the woman and brought her outside, where she was treated by EMS and transported to the hospital in stable condition.
The 200 Club of Ocean County is a non-profit organization that supports the families of police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first responders who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.
