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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, Norridge Police 
6Department Corporal Vaughan Watts, along with members of the 
7Norridge Police Department, the Norwood Park Fire 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, Corporal Vaughan Watts 
14and the other responders found fire coming out of windows on 2 
15sides of the building and heavy smoke on the first and second 
16floors; the responders immediately began searching for 
17victims, eventually finding several victims hanging out of 
18windows on the 2nd floor; all available crew members were then 
19called to the 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, Corporal Vaughan Watts serves as a model of hard 
9work, integrity, 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 Norridge Police Department Corporal Vaughan Watts for his 
14work and wish him continued success in the future; and be it 
15further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to Corporal Vaughan Watts as a symbol of our esteem 
18and respect.