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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 
 
 
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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.