HR0137 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0137 LRB102 17496 LAW 23040 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend Lt. Brian Kulaga of the Cicero Fire Department for his recent heroic actions while off duty; and

WHEREAS, On February 19, 2021, Lt. Kulaga was running errands for the firehouse when he spotted smoke and flames coming from the second floor above Waterworks Pizzeria & Tavern at 7815 Ogden Avenue in Lyons; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Kulaga stopped and notified employees at Waterworks Pizzeria & Tavern that the building was on fire; he then asked the employees to show him how to reach the apartments on the second floor; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Kulaga went to the second floor, where he located the first resident walking around in smoke and took him down the stairs to safety; and

WHEREAS, Upon learning there was another resident still inside, Lt. Kulaga returned upstairs and called to the second individual; with smoke to the floor, he crawled to the second man, found him, pulled him down to the floor, and dragged him out of the building; and

WHEREAS, After saving the two men, Lt. Kulaga assisted Lyons firefighters with hose lines; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Kulaga has served as a firefighter in the Cicero Fire Department for 32 years; he is currently assigned as a lieutenant on Truck Co. 2 on Gold Shift; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Kulaga was born in Cicero to Barbara and John Kulaga on February 7, 1967; he has been married to Louis C. Kulaga, a science teacher and coach at Gurrie Middle School in LaGrange, for 27 years; they have two children, Brian and Amy; they also have three Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Tazer, Koda, and Lilo; they reside in Riverside; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Kulaga's quick thinking and bravery, done without protective gear with no regard for his own life, saved the lives of two men; he is a true firefighter and an honor to his profession; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Lt. Brian Kulaga of the Cicero Fire Department for his selfless actions on February 19, 2021, and we thank him for his continued service to the community of Cicero and the citizens of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Lt. Kulaga as an expression of our esteem and respect.