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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate the DeKalb Fire
4Department on the 150th anniversary of its founding and
5recognize its years of service to the local community and its
6ongoing commitment to the safety of the citizens of DeKalb; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The DeKalb Fire Department was founded in 1869 in
8response to the growing population and industry within the City
9of DeKalb requiring organized fire protection; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Hook & Ladder Company 1 was organized in 1870 and
11staffed by volunteer firefighters; the first Hose Company was
12organized in 1874, with a second Hose Company added 10 years
13later; and
 
14    WHEREAS, William Miller was named the first fire chief and
15led the department for 36 years; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In 1904, the City of DeKalb established a paid
17fire department and disbanded the volunteer fire companies; the
18first paid firefighters were Hans Erickson, James Klock, Mike
19McEvoy, and Charles Burr; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Today, the DeKalb Fire Department consists of 54

 

 

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1personnel led by Fire Chief Jeff McMaster, the 19th chief of
2the department; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The DeKalb Fire Department provides all hazards
4response to the community through fire prevention, fighting
5fires, paramedic level emergency medical service, hazardous
6materials response, technical rescue response, and any other
7type of emergency response requested of the department; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The DeKalb Fire Department is committed to
9providing the highest level of service to the citizens of
10DeKalb and those who visit; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The DeKalb Fire Department strives to
12continuously seek innovative and effective ways to protect the
13lives and property of those they serve through suppression,
14emergency medical services, education, prevention, and
15training; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The DeKalb Firefighters of today embody and honor
17the department's tradition of dedication and commitment to the
18local community through their professionalism and courageous
19work; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

 

 

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1we congratulate the DeKalb Fire Department on the 150th
2anniversary of its founding, recognize its tradition of bravery
3and dedication, and wish it many more successful years; and be
4it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the DeKalb Fire Department as a symbol of our
7respect and esteem.