PRINTER'S NO. 900
No. 136 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY McCALL, ARGALL, BAKER, BALDWIN, BARRAR, BASTIAN,
BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE,
CAUSER, CAWLEY, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ,
DENLINGER, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, J. EVANS,
FICHTER, FLEAGLE, FORCIER, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE,
GERBER, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARPER, HASAY,
HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON,
JAMES, W. KELLER, KOTIK, LEACH, LEDERER, MAJOR, MANN,
MARSICO, McGILL, McILHATTAN, McILHINNEY, MELIO, R. MILLER,
S. MILLER, MUNDY, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PETRARCA,
PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PISTELLA, PRESTON, READSHAW, ROBERTS,
ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR,
SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SEMMEL, SHANER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY,
STABACK, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, TRUE, WALKO, WANSACZ,
WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND ZUG, MARCH 14, 2005
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 14, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring volunteer forest firefighters by setting aside the week
2 of March 20 through 26, 2005, as "Volunteer Forest
3 Firefighter Week" in this Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, The forest firefighters (FFF) of the Department of
5 Conservation and Natural Resources (formerly the Bureau of
6 Forestry of the Department of Environmental Resources) is a
7 group of volunteers deserving recognition for their dedicated
8 hard work, fidelity and commitment to preserving the natural
9 resources of this Commonwealth; and
10 WHEREAS, To have the desire and the ability to become a
11 forest firefighter involves the traits of unique individuals who
1 are becoming increasingly difficult to recruit. A forest
2 firefighter must complete a minimum of 20 hours of instruction
3 and practical work and attend training sessions and advanced
4 special training programs on his own time; and
5 WHEREAS, A forest firefighter must buy special clothing and
6 equipment at his own expense and maintain tools and equipment;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, Some of the forest firefighters leave their full-
9 time places of employment when called upon to suppress a forest
10 fire, and high school students may be called to leave high
11 school to fight a forest fire. Many holiday gatherings are
12 interrupted or missed in the performance of volunteer duties;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Fighting forest fires involves very dangerous, hard
15 physical work, often in difficult terrain or after working eight
16 hours or more at a place of full-time employment, and is
17 demanding on family life; and
18 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is most fortunate to have these
19 dedicated volunteers who care enough to sacrifice and work to
20 preserve the natural beauty of our essential forests and
21 woodlands; therefore be it
22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
23 dedication and sacrifice of the volunteer forest firefighters of
24 the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by setting
25 aside the week of March 20 through 26, 2005, as "Volunteer
26 Forest Firefighter Week" in Pennsylvania, and urge the citizens
27 of this Commonwealth to join in honoring the forest fire
28 wardens, special assistant forest fire wardens, assistant
29 wardens and forest fire crew members of Pennsylvania.
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