RAHWAY, N.J. — Veteran fire service educator Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder has been named the recipient of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association’s George Steele Media Award.
The George Steele Media Award is presented to a civilian or NJ FMBA member who promotes the ideals and activities of the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association in the media in a favorable and honest manner. The award is named in honor of George Steele, a former recording secretary of the NJ FMBA.
Much of Goldfeder’s work over the years — particularly running the site FirefighterCloseCalls.com — has focused on helping firefighters learn from past incidents and improve safety and operations across the profession.
“I am beyond honored to be the recipient of the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association’s George Steele Media Award,” Goldfeder told FireRescue1. “Through several venues — magazines, books, conferences, seminars and, of course, the internet — I have tried to ‘pass on’ the facts of what has occurred to other firefighters so we all can learn.”
He added: “There are, without question, times when bad outcomes have occurred to our brothers and sisters because of the often very necessary risk of this job. However, we also try to learn from situations that have occurred to firefighters where there may be newer, better or just different ways of operating, while still doing everything we do to take care of those in need. I am so grateful to the FMBA for recognizing our efforts of trying to make this job better by educating those in our profession.”
The award will be presented during the New Jersey FMBA Valor Awards Dinner on April 25, 2026, at The Pines Manor in Edison, New Jersey.
Goldfeder serves as deputy chief for the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department in Ohio and as a senior advisor to Lexipol, owner of FireRescue1. Goldfeder also serves on FireRescue1’s Editorial Advisory Board.
The New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association was established on Dec. 11, 1897, during its first annual convention in Jersey City. The organization was founded by six original locals: Jersey City, Paterson, Hoboken, Newark, Trenton and Camden, bringing together career firefighters under the New Jersey State FMBA banner. By 1907, membership had grown from six locals to 12, with 1,157 members.
Today, the organization includes 107 fire, EMS and dispatcher locals and represents more than 5,000 career personnel across New Jersey.
