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PRINTER'S NO. 1437
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
236
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY HEFFLEY, PICKETT, HENNESSEY, BIZZARRO, MEHAFFIE,
BURNS, KNOWLES, MURT, KORTZ, HILL-EVANS, RYAN, MACKENZIE,
DiGIROLAMO, CAUSER, CALTAGIRONE, SONNEY, READSHAW, BROWN,
SAINATO, FREEMAN, OBERLANDER, LONGIETTI, MILLARD, B. MILLER,
KINSEY, DeLUCA, SCHWEYER AND MARKOSEK, APRIL 16, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 16, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating March 20, 2019, as "Forest Firefighter Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources' Bureau of Forestry is tasked with protecting life,
property and natural resources in this Commonwealth from
wildfires; and
WHEREAS, To meet this challenge, Pennsylvania firefighters
are trained and qualified under national wildland standards to
function as either a member of an organized incident management
team or a member of a wildland crew; and
WHEREAS, Special equipment is needed for this undertaking,
and there are several avenues for the local firefighting
agencies to obtain the necessary items; and
WHEREAS, Under the Federal Excess Property Program the Bureau
of Forestry acquires excess Federal equipment and assigns the
equipment to rural fire departments as a loan; and
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WHEREAS, The Bureau of Forestry also acquires excess military
equipment and transfers the equipment to fire departments and
emergency service agencies; and
WHEREAS, There are several grant programs available from
Federal and State sources for local firefighter programs as
well; and
WHEREAS, When called for duty to fight a wildfire, qualified
crews gather at the mobilization center at the Lower Swatara
Fire Department in Middletown, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, While dispatched to a wildfire, which typically
lasts between 14 and 16 days, the firefighters are required to
have their own tents and Bureau of Forestry-provided personal
protection equipment, which includes a fire shelter, boots,
gloves, hard hat, eye protection and flame resistant clothing;
and
WHEREAS, Since 1973, more than 150 crews of 20 individuals
each have been mobilized for deployment to aid with wildfire
suppression and hurricane emergency aid throughout the lower 48
states and Alaska; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, 289 personnel from Pennsylvania assisted 13
states with wildland fires, and 30 wildfires were suppressed
with aid from Pennsylvania air operations; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
20, 2019, as "Forest Firefighter Day" in Pennsylvania.
20190HR0236PN1437 - 2 -
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