Newtown Fire Rescue, which covers the borough and township, recognized 17 firefighters for their heroic actions during the July 15, 2023, flash flood in Upper Makefield.
Two members received the Medal of Valor for their exceptional bravery.
Fire Chief Glenn Forsyth presented the awards at the department’s general membership meeting on August 26 to acknowledge the firefighters’ efforts during and after the devastating flood.
“These guys worked long and hard hours in the daylight and darkness trying to recover the folks that were still alive, and unfortunately, the folks that perished in that flood,” Forsyth said during his report to the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors this week.
Deputy Chief Roy Larosa and former firefighter Shane Quinnan received the Medal of Valor for their heroic actions on the night of the incident.
The two Newtown firefighters were among the first on the scene and assisted the Upper Makefield Fire Company in several rescues.
“They completed three rescues and they also were part of the recovery team for several days after that,” Forsyth said.
Fifteen other firefighters received letter accommodations for their work throughout the week following the flood. Among those honored were firefighter Liz Ellis, Quinn Jones, and Battalion Chief Gerhard.
Firefighters Bradshaw, Jones, Katz, and Tanner also received unit citations for their performance on the night of the incident.
The chief apologized for the delay in recognizing the firefighters, explaining that it took a year to formally acknowledge their efforts. However, he emphasized that the wait did not diminish the importance of their actions.
Supervisor Elen Snyder stated her appreciation for the fire department’s service.
“I did express how proud I was of the actions of members of our fire services and emergency services,” she said. “It was an honor to watch them get their awards.”
The flash flood on July 15 devastated parts of Upper Makefield Township. It resulted in seven deaths and prompting an extensive search and rescue operation that lasted for days.
This week, the chief also highlighted the department’s participation in a special training event on August 29 where they worked with a technical rescue team from Virginia on high-angle rescues.
