Tara Rincon

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Aug 21, 2026, 5:40 AM

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Updated

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A Nassau County volunteer firefighter was honored for saving the life of one of his fellow members.

Charles Karen of the Carle Place Fire Department was presented with the prestigious Firefighter of the Year award for valor.

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York chose Karen for his brave actions in pulling his seriously injured assistant chief from a burning roof collapse at a blaze in Roslyn Heights last October.

As News 12 has reported, Carle Place 1st Assistant Chief William Geddish was operating as part of the ladder crew at the scene of the house fire, when he sunk through the roof and into the burning attic up to his waist.

Firefighter Karen quickly grabbed the chief by the upper body and pulled him out of the hole, fire officials say.

“Thanks to Charles’ courage, training, skill and willingness to risk his own life, I am here today.” Chief Geddish said.

“He didn't just save my life, he gave me the chance to make it home to my wife and two daughters,” Geddish added.

Geddish spent three weeks in the burn unit at Weill Cornell Medicine.