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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.