Newtown honors two firefighters with Medal of Valor for February rescue

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors on March 26 recognized Firefighters Michael Bradshaw and Quentin Jones of Newtown Fire Rescue for life‑saving actions during a Feb. 4 house fire in Lower Makefield Township.

Chief Rick Gerhart of the Bucks County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association presented a Medal of Valor at the start of the board meeting, saying the pair’s “heroic actions on February 4, 2025 in Lower Makefield Township resulted in the successful rescue of a victim.” Chief Gerhart described the victim as located on a second floor of a well‑involved dwelling.

Deputy Chief Tim Chamberlain and Chief Glenn Forsyth provided a detailed account of the response: the two Newtown firefighters entered the structure amid heavy smoke and very limited visibility; one advanced to the second floor, located a disoriented woman at the top of the stairs, and moved her down as the other firefighter removed her through the front door and transferred her to police officers. The crew from Rescue 45 and additional companies then secured water supplies and extinguished the fire, the chiefs said. The rescued woman was taken to a local hospital and later to a specialty hospital in Philadelphia; she was released weeks later and is recovering, according to the chiefs.

Chief Forsyth used the occasion to thank career and volunteer personnel and noted the persistent challenge of maintaining volunteer staffing. The board also presented a unit citation to Rescue 45 and provided plaques to the two firefighters.

The presentation included visiting command staff from neighboring departments and a citation from the Yardley‑Makefield Fire Company; supervisors recessed briefly for family photos before continuing the meeting.

The board did not take formal policy action at the presentation; the recognition was ceremonial and public.