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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to honor those who risk their lives 
4to protect and serve the people of this State; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, At 5:08 AM on January 7, 2015, Norwood Park Fire 
6Department firefighter Rich Appelhans, along with members of 
7the Norwood Park Fire Department, the Norridge Police 
8Department, the Harwood Heights Police Department, the Elmwood 
9Park Fire Department, and the River Grove Fire Department, 
10responded to a house fire at 7911 West Gunnison Street in 
11Norridge; while traveling to the scene of the fire, the 
12responders were notified that there were trapped victims in the 
13home; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Upon arriving at the scene, Rich Appelhans and the 
15other responders found fire coming out of windows on 2 sides of 
16the building and heavy smoke on the first and second floors; 
17the responders immediately began searching for victims, 
18eventually finding several victims hanging out of windows on 
19the 2nd floor; all available crew members were then called to 
20the rear of the house with ground ladders; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Working as a team, the responders were able to 
22successfully ladder the building and assist victims onto the 
 
 
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1ladders and down to safety; the victims were handed over to 
2Emergency Medical Services crews to check for injuries or smoke 
3inhalation; the victims were subsequently  transported to local 
4hospitals and were released later that afternoon; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, After the victims were removed from the building, 
6the responders began to attack the fire with multiple hose 
7lines and elevated master streams; after several hours, the 
8fire was successfully controlled; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Rich Appelhans serves as a model of hard work, 
10integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
11Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
14honor Norwood Park Fire Department firefighter Rich Appelhans 
15for his work and wish him continued success in the future; and 
16be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to Rich Appelhans as a symbol of our esteem and 
19respect.