Report Nears Completion On Fatal Newtown Township Fire

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — An investigation into the cause of a fire that killed a woman on January 1 is almost complete, according to Newtown Township Fire Chief Glenn Forsyth.

The fire broke out in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day and quickly spread through a townhouse in the Headley Trace development off of the Newtown-Yardley Road.

A 76 year old woman died from smoke inhalation, making it the township’s first fatal fire in more than 40 years.

“That investigation is coming to an end and hopefully in the next couple of weeks I’ll be able release the report so that you are all aware of what happened out there,” Forsyth told the board of supervisors on Feb. 22 during his monthly report.

Forsyth also reported that on Jan. 31 firefighters responded to an alarm call in Newtown Borough at the Newtown Laundromat off of North State Street.

“We had a pretty serious fire in the borough. It started in the laundromat and went up into the first floor,” Forsyth told the supervisors. “It looks like the fire had been burning for several days before it was detected. We were fortunate that we didn’t have another serious loss (of property),” said the chief.

As of Saturday the laundromat had not reopened for business.

Forsyth also reported that the Newtown Fire Association recently completed the purchase of new breathing apparatus for the company at a cost of $277,000.

“The breathing apparatus has been placed in service and all the training has been complete,” said Forsyth. “We’re now good for the next 15 years before we have another major expense as far as replacing breathing apparatus.”

Forsyth recognized and thanked members of the Newtown Rotary Club for its donation of a $5,000 grant, which will be put toward the purchase.