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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to 
3congratulate Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola on being the 
4recipient of the Illinois Fire Service Medal of Honor; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Illinois Fire Service Medal of Honor is the 
6highest award given by the State of Illinois to a firefighter 
7for an act of outstanding bravery or heroism, by which the 
8firefighter has demonstrated in great degree the 
9characteristics of selflessness and personal courage above and 
10beyond the call of duty, under adverse conditions, with the 
11possibility of extreme personal risk; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola was 
13recognized for his extraordinary actions during a commercial 
14structure fire at 330 West Lake Street in Addison on May 21, 
152025, where crews encountered a working fire in a commercial 
16occupancy with smoke showing upon arrival; and
 
17    WHEREAS, As interior operations began, 
18Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola was assigned to the entry 
19point to assist with advancing hose lines; during suppression 
20efforts, conditions rapidly deteriorated after fire extended 
21into a concealed void space above operating crews; heavy fire, 
22extreme heat, and zero visibility forced firefighters to the 
 
 
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1floor as they attempted to locate an exit, leading to an 
2evacuation being ordered; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Upon the order to evacuate, Firefighter-Paramedic 
4Gino Casciola maintained his position at the threshold of the 
5structure, where he was met with zero-visibility conditions 
6and extreme thermal stress; he initially facilitated the 
7egress of three interior members who were disoriented and 
8searching for the exit; despite repeated orders to retreat 
9from the building for his own safety, he remained at the door, 
10identifying that two members were still absent; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Recognizing that the remaining members had not 
12emerged and that the window for survival was closing, 
13Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola reentered the structure; 
14after clearing a blocked exit path, he conducted a rapid 
15search in high-heat, zero-visibility conditions and 
16successfully located and extracted the first remaining member; 
17without hesitation, he reentered the structure a second time, 
18located the final missing member, and successfully pulled them 
19to safety; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola only exited 
21the structure after accounting for all remaining members; 
22through his decisive and selfless actions, five members, 
23including two lieutenants and three firefighter-paramedics, 
 
 
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1were safely removed from the structure and survived the 
2incident without injury; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola's actions 
4exemplified the highest traditions of fire service and reflect 
5great credit upon himself and Addison Fire Protection District 
6#1; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola will be 
8awarded the Illinois Fire Service Medal of Honor at the 
9Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Firefighting Medal of 
10Honor Awards Ceremony in Springfield on May 12, 2026; 
11therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate 
14Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola of Addison Fire Protection 
15District #1 on being awarded the Illinois Fire Service Medal 
16of Honor, and we thank him for his service and dedication to 
17the Addison community and the State of Illinois; and be it 
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to Firefighter-Paramedic Gino Casciola as an 
21expression of our esteem and respect.