OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
April 30, 2014
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning the Chicago Fire Department. Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Veiy truly yours,
adopted by Tfoe Gity GoUHCll
of the Gity of Ghicago, Illinois
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL
^QllBfBClS ' ^n *ne morn'na °f February 9, 2014, a frigid day in the midst of one of the coldest winters in our city's history, the Chicago Fire Department received a call reporting a person trapped on the frozen surface of Lake Michigan; and
WHEREAS, While en route to the reported location at 4200 North Lakefront, the responders, including Squad 1 of the Fire Department, learned that the person in danger was an autistic child who had left her mother's side and wandered out onto the ice; and
WHEREAS, The companies that arrived first on the scene saw no sign of the child or her mother; and
WHEREAS, The mother, who was still on the phone with the main fire alarm office, frantically described her position as north of the clock tower at Marovitz Golf Course; and
WHEREAS, Upon arriving and noting the other responders moving north. Squad 1 personnel made the tactical decision to use binoculars to scan the lakefront to the south, on the outside chance that the child's mother had inadvertently misdescribed her location; and
WHEREAS, Squad 1 personnel immediately spotted the victim and her mother, three blocks to the south; and
WHEREAS, Wasting no time, Squad 1 personnel reported their findings via radio, and set off on foot through the deep snow, carrying their ladders and water rescue equipment; and
WHEREAS, The firefighters reached the shore and quickly staged the necessary equipment for a rescue operation; and
WHEREAS, Squad 1 personnel retrieved the child, who they discovered was walking barefooted, more than 20 feet from land; and
WHEREAS, W...
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