Honor Fire Company Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 228 BY: Senator LITTLE COMMEMORATING the 70th Anniversary of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company on August 18, 2018 WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company and to honor its past and present firefighting members for 70 years of fire protection to the citizens of North Queensbury, New York, and its surrounding communities; and WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at an Open House on Saturday, August 18, 2018, where residents are invited to participate in a myriad of events held throughout the day including demonstrations, entertainment, food and family fun; and WHEREAS, The first meeting to organize the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company was held in the old District No. 5 schoolhouse on upper Ridge Road on September 24, 1948, and was attended by 18 men; over the next 30 days, 21 more members signed on and a 5,000 square foot landsite was donated by Robert LaPan; and WHEREAS, At its next meeting on October 24, 1948, the following men were elected to office: Ralph Been, President; Leander Dickinson, Vice President; Henry Osterhoudt, Secretary; Alger Mason, Treasurer; Robert LaPan, Chief; William Brenm, Assistant Chief; and Fred Vaughn, Vernon West, William Henderson, Arthur Freelove, Dean Howland, and Douglas Webster, Directors; furthermore, Dr. Francis Lukes, Owen Kane, Granville Beals and George Seeley were elected honorary members; and WHEREAS, At this time, a building committee was appointed and plans were made to acquire a 1916 American LaFrance fire engine; a week later, ground was broken for a 30 X 35 cement block building firehouse from plans drawn by J. Arthur Norton; and WHEREAS, The fire company was barely formed when it received its first alarm, a brush fire on Assembly Point; that same night, a second call was answered; the fledgling firefighters also learned and honed their skills by attending regular drills which were in conformance with state law; and WHEREAS, The firehouse was nearly completed by April 22, 1949, and the first meeting was held in the new firehouse; within the next decade or so, many pieces of equipment were purchased including a Dodge power wagon equipped with a 500 gallon per minute pump, and a Ford 600 gallon per minute pumper; and WHEREAS, In 1949, a rescue squad was formed as part of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company, and Ralph Hill Sr. served as the first Captain; the first ambulance was acquired in 1959 and replaced two years later; today, the Rescue Squad is a separate but associated organization; however, they frequently work in tandem with the Fire Company; and WHEREAS, In the late 1980s, organizations such as OSHA began tightening regulations and making new rulings which seriously affected the way things were done; mandatory equipment, schooling, training and methods were being revised and becoming more complicated; paper work, reports and record keeping became a major operation; computers were coming into usage and were becoming necessity rather than a convenience; and rules were set up on what a firefighter must wear when fighting fires and emergencies; and WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, it became obvious that the present firehouse was not only inadequate but did not meet OSHA and other mandates; after plans were finalized in August of 1993, construction began and work progressed during the winter with completion in early

1994; and WHEREAS, Since that time new trucks and equipment have been added, and the members have gone through courses in various types of rescue operations and have proven to be proficient in all procedures involved; and WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 70 years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and have won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company in public service and fire protection is one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 70 years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left their homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company are prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the lives of others and to protect homes and property from the destruction caused by fire; and WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated by individual firefighters, the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company reflects the history and development of firefighting over the past 70 years; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude to those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility their own by serving as firefighters; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should give special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the betterment of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic good works performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great Empire State, their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to proudly commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company on August 18, 2018; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company.