01/12/2026
Great group of men and women! Thank you for your service.
The Bucks County Rescue Squad was recently honored by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick as “Hometown Heroes” in recognition of their heroic response to the Silver Lake Nursing Home tragedy. Below are Congressman Fitzpatrick’s remarks honoring their service and dedication to our community.
"When emergencies strike, the safety of a community depends on those trained to bring order to chaos, calm to crisis, and care to the moments that matter most. That readiness is built long before the call comes in—and tested when every second carries weight. Today, we honor the men and women who embody that calling. Meet this week’s Hometown Heroes: the incredible men and women of Bucks County Rescue Squad Medic 143.
When the devastating explosions tore through the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol Township on December 23rd, our community was thrust into a moment of fear, urgency, and heartbreak. What followed became one of the largest emergency responses in our community’s history. In those first critical moments, the incredible men and women of BCRS Medic 143 were among the first on scene, without any hesitation.
Led by Chief Martin J. Liczbinski, BCRC Medic 143 is comprised of highly trained paramedics and EMTs—both staff and volunteers—who provide advanced life support ambulance and rescue services to Bristol Borough and Bristol Township around the clock—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That day, they entered an unstable, hazardous environment to assess, triage, and treat patients under conditions that demanded both speed and precision. Every decision carried consequence, every action demanded skill, and their meticulous, disciplined care was truly heroic and lifesaving.
Emergency medical service is a profession defined by preparation, trust, and responsibility. Much of this work unfolds quietly, without recognition, but its impact is profound. As an EMT myself, I understand the level of discipline, judgment, and responsibility the role of emergency medical services demands. What Medic 143 demonstrated at Silver Lake was emergency medicine at its highest standard—technical excellence guided by humanity.
This tragedy will forever be part of our community’s story—but so will the courage, professionalism, and resolve of those who answered the call. In that moment, BCRC Medic 143 did what they had trained to do. They were ready.
Please join me in thanking these remarkable men and women—not only for their heroic response on that day, but for the work they do every single day: for the calls answered without hesitation, for the calm brought to moments of fear, and for the lives protected—every week, every month, every year.
And as we honor BCRC Medic 143, we also extend our deepest gratitude to the staff of the Silver Lake Nursing Home, to our entire First Responder community who answered the call that day, and to the nurses, doctors, and medical professionals at Lower Bucks Hospital, whose compassion and care brought healing in the midst of heartbreak.
Our community is blessed to be protected by some of the finest in the country. We thank you, our Hometown" Heroes—today, tomorrow, and always.
