Firefighter Who Saved Toddler's Life Decorated for Heroic Actions

An area toddler will celebrate his fourth, fifth and many birthdays to come thanks to the quick thinking and fearless action of one of Clinton Township’s men in blue.

Firefighter Paul Brouwer, Jr. was recognized Monday for his lifesaving actions on the morning of June 24, when he climbed through the window of a burning home and rescued a 3-year-old child.

Brouwer was awarded the Clinton Township Department of Fire-Rescue-EMS Chief’s medal for “valor and outstanding service to both the Department and the community” for his actions.

It was shortly after 5 a.m. June 24 when Brouwer, who was serving as the acting lieutenant of Engine 3, arrived at the scene of a fire in the manufactured home community of Chateau Clinton.

More than 40 percent of the home was engulfed in flames upon Engine 3’s arrival, and a small child was reported to be trapped in a back bedroom.

“As the firefighters of Engine 3 worked to ready the hose, Paul evaluated the circumstances while he conferred with several residents who were present,” said Fire Chief John Shea. “They confirmed that a child was trapped in the rear bedroom.”

Realizing that fire was blocking the doorway leading to that bedroom, Brouwer directed a resident and two police officers on the scene to help him crawl through a bedroom window.

“Moving without hesitation or regard for his own personal safety, before water started, Acting Lt. Brouwer entered the burning structure and began searching the room,” Shea said.

Despite zero visibility, Brouwer located the child, who had been overcome with smoke, and handed him out the window to emergency personnel waiting at the scene. The child was rushed to the hospital and two months later, Shea said he can report his full recovery.

The entire rescue operation was performed in less than three minutes.

“Paul would tell you ... he was just an ordinary guy doing his ordinary job, but it’s extraordinary because that’s what every one of these guys in blue and gals in blue would have done,” said Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon. “He just happened to be the one there. This is the type of person we have in our fire department and our police department. We are very proud of our public safety in this community.”

Brouwer was chosen to receive this award by a committee of his peers. The Brouwer family was on hand to watch their husband and father accept the award, and will join him in Lansing Tuesday as special guests of Clinton Township House Reps. Marilyn Lane (District 31) and Anthony Forlini (District 24).