HR0945 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0945 LRB094 19591 HSS 55786 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Canton Fire Department celebrated its 100th anniversary with an open house on Saturday and Sunday, February 4 and 5, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Canton's first volunteer fire department was formed in 1846 with around 50 men; firefighting tactics consisted of using huge poles with hooks attached to pull down the walls of burning buildings to prevent the spread of fire; a bucket brigade also was used when it was thought to be effective in dousing a fire; and

WHEREAS, After a major fire in 1868, the city council passed an ordinance to establish a fire department; in October of that year, the department purchased a fire engine and hose reel; the city council later voted to erect a building to house fire equipment and provide for a jail and council rooms; construction was completed in 1869; and

WHEREAS, When fire apparatus was first acquired, it was hand-drawn; later it was powered by horses; the volunteer fire department did not own horses, but contracted with individuals to furnish horses to pull the equipment; and

WHEREAS, In 1906, Canton officials decided full-time, professional fire protection was needed and on February 19, 1906, the first paid fire department was organized; and

WHEREAS, Today, firefighters work in a 3-platoon system, with 24 hours on and 48 hours off, averaging a 56-hour work week; the department has staffed five persons per shift since 1974; and

WHEREAS, The department is technologically up-to-date and uses thermal imaging devices that detect objects of varying temperatures, helping firefighters find victims through heavy smoke and enabling them to note hot spots while fighting a fire; the department's pumper trucks are computerized and personal protective equipment is modernized; and

WHEREAS, In the late 1970s, firefighters began to provide emergency medical services and today, EMS accounts for two-thirds of alarms received in a year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Canton Fire Department on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Canton Fire Department as an expression of our esteem.