HR0436 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0436 LRB102 19892 LAW 28668 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Firefighter Matthew Preston of the Belleville Fire Department for being selected to receive the Firefighter Excellence Award, which is presented by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal; and

WHEREAS, The Firefighter Excellence Award is presented for an act of service in the line of duty, demonstrating excellence and professionalism in service to the citizens of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Preston, as a member of the Belleville Fire Department's Crew 1229, responded to an apartment fire in the 200 block of Freedom Drive on the morning of Saturday, October 26, 2019; the fire originated in the bathroom, where unattended candles caught an aerosol can on fire, causing an explosion; and

WHEREAS, Upon the Belleville Fire Department's arrival, it was discovered that a mother and two children had already safely escaped the apartment; Matthew Preston, alongside Engineer Jeremy DeJournett, entered the apartment complex to clear it of occupants and were putting on their gear when Jeremy DeJournett heard crying, which drew them into the apartment; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Preston located a third child, a 4-year-old, on a couch underneath some pillows inside the apartment; he then pulled the child out of the smoke-filled apartment; the child was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was released hours later; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Preston will be presented the Firefighter Excellence Award at the 28th Annual Firefighter Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony hosted by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal on September 10, 2021; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Firefighter Matthew Preston for being selected to receive the Firefighter Excellence Award, and we thank him for his continued bravery and service in the line of duty; and be it further

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