PRINTER'S NO. 1783
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
390
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY HEFFLEY, DAY, HARHART, KNOWLES, HAHN, READSHAW,
KIRKLAND, BROWNLEE, COHEN, ROZZI, DONATUCCI, KINSEY, THOMAS,
WHEELAND, DRISCOLL, BAKER, DiGIROLAMO, DUSH, SONNEY, BARRAR,
VEREB, MURT, MILLARD, HENNESSEY, MACKENZIE, GIBBONS, JOZWIAK,
GROVE, O'NEILL, D. MILLER, FARINA, SCHWEYER, D. COSTA,
GINGRICH, MAJOR, BISHOP, PAYNE AND GOODMAN, JUNE 11, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 11, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the first responders who safely battled and
contained the East Penn Township wildland fire on April 18
and 19, 2015.
WHEREAS, The wildland fire originating on April 18, 2015, in
East Penn Township, Carbon County, raged and ascended along Blue
Mountain, spreading to 400 acres in Lehigh and Carbon Counties
before being suppressed the next day; and
WHEREAS, Using air tankers and helicopters as needed, up to
120 firefighters were working at any given time to control
blazes and limit areas of active burning; and
WHEREAS, Forest fire wardens, Victor Units and other State
fire officials from the Bureau of Forestry of the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources contributed to this work; and
WHEREAS, The State Emergency Operations Center and Eastern
Area Office of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency,
Lehigh County Special Operations and Carbon County Emergency
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Management supported the two-day effort; and
WHEREAS, The East Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department was
a primary incident command system facility, housing the command
post, incident base, staging and shelter operations; and
WHEREAS, First responders from throughout the region,
including firefighters from Chester, Dauphin and Lancaster
Counties, assisted firefighters from Lehigh, Carbon and
Schuylkill Counties; and
WHEREAS, Lehighton Fire Department from Lehighton, Carbon
County, Citizen's Fire Company from Slatedale, Lehigh County,
Friedens Fire Company from Slatington, Lehigh County, Slatington
Fire Company from Slatington, Lehigh County, Star Hose Fire
Company No. 1 from Slatington, Lehigh County, North Penn
Goodwill Service from Souderton, Montgomery County,
Klecknersville Rangers Volunteer Fire Company from Northampton
County, Lehigh Township Fire Department from Northampton County,
West Penn Township Fire Department from Schuylkill County and
Polk Township Fire Department from Monroe County were among the
scores of responding volunteer fire departments; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments from Aquashicola, Jim Thorpe, Penn
Forest Township, Nesquehoning, Summit Hill, Lansford,
Bowmanstown, Franklin Township, Mahoning Township, Palmerton,
Parryville and Towamensing Township also mobilized for this
incident; and
WHEREAS, Carbon County 9-1-1, Lehighton Ambulance, Mahoning
Valley Ambulance and Palmerton Ambulance contributed to the
concerted fire and emergency medical service response; and
WHEREAS, The Salvation Army Canteen Service from Berks County
delivered assistance; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives respectfully
20150HR0390PN1783 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
acknowledges the brave individuals who endeavored to control
conditions on Blue Mountain and who did so without injury;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
first responders who safely battled and contained the East Penn
Township wildland fire on April 18 and 19, 2015.
20150HR0390PN1783 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6