HR0535LRB100 13450 MST 28053 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize the Peoria Heights Fire
4Department on the occasion of its 100th anniversary in July of
52017; and
 
6    WHEREAS, There have been nine fire chiefs since the
7department was incorporated in 1917; the first, E.J. Brayton,
8served for three years; the longest running fire chief was
9William "Bill" Bair, who served from 1953 to 1998; the current
10chief, Greg Walters, was appointed on September 12, 2012; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The department started with seven volunteers who
12responded from their homes, manning three hand-operated hose
13carts that were stored in the yards of the volunteers; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The department responds to approximately 850
15calls per year; today, the department provides fire
16suppression, fire prevention, technical rescue response
17(vehicle accidents, elevator rescues), and emergency medical
18services within a 2.3 square mile response area; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Peoria Heights Fire Department was a major
20player in the rescue and recovery operation following the 2013
21Washington, Illinois F-4 tornado; personnel from the

 

 

HR0535- 2 -LRB100 13450 MST 28053 r

1department were stationed at Washington's fire station for
2seven days following the tornado, working side by side with
3members of other departments from around central Illinois; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Since its inception, the members of Peoria Heights
5Fire Department have always been ready willing and able to
6assist their neighbors in their time of need, whether it was
7due to the ravages of fire or from a natural disaster, the
8department has responded; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
10HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11recognize the Peoria Heights Fire Department on its 100th
12anniversary, and we wish it many more successful years; and be
13it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the Peoria Heights Fire Department as a symbol of
16our respect and esteem.