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