Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0754

SR0754 LRB104 21690 LAW 37265 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to congratulate Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola on being the recipient of the Illinois Fire Service Medal of Valor; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Fire Service Medal of Valor is awarded by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal to firefighters who demonstrate exceptional courage, bravery, and a commitment to protecting others at great personal risk; and

WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola was recognized for his extraordinary actions during a commercial structure fire at 330 West Lake Street in Addison on May 21, 2025, where crews encountered a working fire in a commercial occupancy with smoke showing upon arrival; and

WHEREAS, As interior operations began, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola was assigned to the entry point to assist with advancing hose lines; during suppression efforts, conditions rapidly deteriorated after fire extended into a concealed void space above operating crews; heavy fire, extreme heat, and zero visibility forced firefighters to the floor as they attempted to locate an exit, leading to an evacuation being ordered; and

WHEREAS, Upon the order to evacuate, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola maintained his position at the threshold of the structure, where he was met with zero-visibility conditions and extreme thermal stress; he initially facilitated the egress of three interior members who were disoriented and searching for the exit; despite repeated orders to retreat from the building for his own safety, he remained at the door, identifying that two members were still absent; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing that the remaining members had not emerged and that the window for survival was closing, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola reentered the structure; after clearing a blocked exit path, he conducted a rapid search in high-heat, zero-visibility conditions and successfully located and extracted the first remaining member; without hesitation, he reentered the structure a second time, located the final missing member, and successfully pulled them to safety; and

WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola only exited the structure after accounting for all remaining members; through his decisive and selfless actions, five members, including two lieutenants and three firefighter-paramedics, were safely removed from the structure and survived the incident without injury; and

WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola's actions exemplified the highest traditions of fire service and reflect great credit upon himself and Addison Fire Protection District #1; and

WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola will be awarded the Illinois Fire Service Medal of Valor at the Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Firefighting Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony in Springfield on May 12, 2026; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola of Addison Fire Protection District #1 on being awarded the Illinois Fire Service Medal, and we thank him for his service and dedication to the Addison community and the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola as an expression of our esteem and respect.