Newtown Supervisors To Recognize Heroic Firefighters

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Two Newtown Township firefighters will be recognized at the March 26 meeting of the board of supervisors for saving the life of a Lower Makefield woman during a house fire in early February.

The actions that they took "were truly heroic," said Elen Snyder, the chair of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors in announcing the upcoming special recognition. "They went above and beyond the call of duty."

On Feb. 4, Newtown career firefighters Michael Bradshaw and Quinnten Jones responded to a house fire in neighboring Lower Makefield and rescued a woman from the second floor of the burning home. The woman had gone back inside to rescue the family's pets and became disoriented.

"Those two firefighters were able to make entry and were able to get her out before the situation got even worse," said Glenn Forsyth, the chief of Newtown Fire Rescue. "I can tell you that as one of the first officers on the scene, when those guys were coming out with her the house flashed over. It was a serious situation that could have ended up a lot worse without our staff there. Our guys are well-trained. They do a fantastic job."

The house erupted into a fireball moments after Michael Bradshaw and Quinnten Jones rescued a woman from the second floor. After saving the woman, they began attacking the fire. (Jeff Goldberg)

Three people were saved from the fire that roared through the Lower Makefield home.

Yardley-Makefield Deputy Chief Tim Chamberlain reported that when two trash haulers saw what was happening, they entered the smoke-filled house in the Farmview section of the township off of Dolington Road and helped rescue a man, his wife, and daughter.

The mother and daughter were struggling to help the father down the steps in an electric chair lift when the trash haulers came to their aid, said Chamberlain, explaining that the father was unable to walk due to an earlier foot injury. “They (the trash haulers) carried him out of the building,” he said.

Moments later, Chamberlain said the mother ran back into the house to rescue the pet dog and cat who perished in the fire.

“Two firemen from Newtown got there quick and were alerted that the mother had gone back inside so they went in, found her on the second floor kind of disoriented and guided her down the steps and got her out," said Chamberlain.

“The smoke was banked down on the first and second floors and the heat was really pushing them back when they got in the front door. They had little time to get in, find her and get out,” said Chamberlain.

While they were inside, Chamberlain said a sliding glass door at the rear of the house blew out and the wind blew the fire from the back to the front of the building in a tremendous ball of fire.

“They were in there when it happened and they could feel the temperature change and they knew they had to move fast,” said Chamberlain. “It was fortunate that the Newtown guys got there quick and were able to get her out,” said Chamberlain. “They did an awesome job.

“For the conditions that were going on in that house, I thank God they were there to do that rescue when they did. They used their training, experience, and knowledge and did what had to be done. I can’t give them enough credit."

(Jeff Goldberg)