Forsyth Sworn In as Township Fire Chief

Newtown Township Police Department Lieutenant Glenn Forsyth was sworn in as the new township fire chief Thursday.

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors approved Forsyth's appointment, making him the first and only paid, full-time fire chief in Bucks County.

Forsyth is a 37-year veteran of the Newtown Fire Association and 28-year veteran of the Newtown Township Police Department.

Forsyth will start his new job as fire chief on July 1 at a salary of $80,000 per year. The township created the position with the goal of establishing a leader to unite the hybrid system of both paid staff and volunteer firefighters. 

Forsyth was born and raised in Newtown Borough and currently resides in Newtown Township with his wife and four children.

According to a letter he submitted to the township, Forsyth has a long family history of fire service. "My grandfather joined the Newtown Fire Association in 1915, my father and several of my uncles have also served in the Fire Association," the letter said. "This tradition continued to my brothers and myself.  I joined the Fire Association as a junior firefighter and became an active member of the association in 1975."

Since joining the association, Forsyth has held many leadership roles, including president, trustee, battalion chief and safety officer.  

Forsyth will report to the township manager. Township Police Chief Rick Pasqualini is currently the interim manager until Kurt Ferguson, , starts in July.

"The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors proudly welcomes Glenn Forsyth to this new position and looks forward to continuing a tradition of cutting-edge fire services for its residents," a township press release said.

Last year, the township hired Matrix Consulting Group to review the function of its fire and emergency response services. As a result of the study, Matrix offered a series of recommendations. 

One of those recommendations was to create a fire chief position to oversee operations at both the volunteer-based  and the paid staff working at the Emergency Services Department. 

The Emergency Services Department has a fire marshal and eight full-time firefighters, who provide daytime coverage Monday through Friday.  Volunteers at the Newtown Fire Association provide evening and weekend coverage.