Local Firefighters Honored for Heroics

Bristol Borough firefighters had already responded to four small but uneventful different fire calls last Dec. 27 when, at 1:26 a.m., the dispatcher’s voice crackled over emergency band radio.

Heavy fire. 612 Pond Street. 2.5 story home. Possible entrapment.

Within minutes, firefighters Brian Russell, James Kuzma, and Eric Ziegelhofer were on scene.

They burst through the front door, only to be met with flames and smoke.

After a short search, they found a 70-year-old man lying on the kitchen floor, unconscious, barely breathing.

John Chislum, who lived at the home, would likely have died right there if firefighters hadn’t arrived in time.

See images of the firefighters the scene of the blaze

Last night, during the first annual Bucks County Fire Chiefs & Fire Association dinner, held at the Trevose Fire Company on Street Road —- Russell, 38, Kuzma, 38, and Ziegelhofer, 31, and Captain James Burnett were given Medals of Valor awards for their heroics.

The rescue was made with help from Bristol Consolidated, Goodwill Hose Company #3, and America Hose Hook and Ladder #2.

“When you hear someone is trapped, you get that extra rush of adrenaline,” Russell said, as he recalled the harrowing incident.

“Any firefighters in Bristol would’ve done the same thing (as us)”, he added.

Red Cross Honors Local Heroes

Russell told how firefighters carried Chislum to a safe area outside the home, where they gave him chest compressions and oxygen. They later handed Chislum over to members of Levittown Fairless Hills Rescue Squad, who took the victim to Temple University Hospital for treatment.

Unfortunately, on March 15, 2013, 78 days after the fire, Chislum passed away while still fighting to recover his injuries.

Also receiving awards last night were several members of the Trevose Fire Company, also for saving a man from possible death.

In that incident, on Dec. 25, 2012, Trevose Fire Company responded to a nasty house fire on Orchard Lane in Feasterville.Once on scene, firefighters Tim Doster, 23, Chris Doster, 19, and Brian Armstrong, 40, were assigned to check the second floor for victims.

Within three minutes, the trio found a bed-ridden male in the left bedroom, and in distress.

They eventually got the victim outside, and handed him over to paramedics.For their heroics, the three firefighters last night were given Medals of Valor.

Firefighters Martin Joyce and Larry Ackermann also received Medals of Courage for their part in the rescue.

Both Chris and Tim are 4th generation members of the Trevose Fire Company. Armstrong has been a member since 2010. Martin Joyce is a 30-plus year member, and Ackerman has been a member since 2004.