OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL MAYOR
May 18,2011
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution for the Chicago Fire Department. Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
H resolution
Resented bu MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL
on
MAY 18, 2011
YVrlBtBClS ' 0n tne mornin9 of APri' 5, 2011 at 9:15 a.m., Truck 29 of the Chicago Fire Department responded to a report of fire in the 5500 block of West Lake Street; and
WHEREAS, Engine 96 and other companies ofthe Chicago Fire Department's 4th District arrived at a two-story mixed-use building with a vacant storefront on the first floor and an apartment overhead; and
WHEREAS, A fire on the second floor had already breached the second-floor ceiling and was now pumping heavy black smoke from the loft-area vents and spreading throughout the roof structure; and
WHEREAS, Two firefighters from Truck 29 raised their aerial ladder to the roof for vital vertical ventilation, while Lieutenant Kevin M. Doherty and Firefighter/Paramedic Severen Henderson forced their way into the structure and made their way up to the second floor; and
WHEREAS, Encountering heavy acrid smoke and brutal heat on the second floor, Lieutenant Doherty and Firefighter/Paramedic Henderson conducted a quick primary search to locate possible fire victims, but found none; and
WHEREAS, The two firefighters immediately began a secondary search as the fire was being brought under control in the dining room and in the space above the ceiling, where flames were now racing through the loft area and burning through the roof; and
WHEREAS, The two relentless firefighters suddenly came across a man lying unconscious on the floor in the middle of a bedroom, buried under debris and bedding; and
WHEREAS, The victim was barely breathing, and there was no time to lose. The two firefighters carried the man to the rear of the apartment and began bringing him down the rear porch stairs; and
WHEREAS, While they were making their way down with the victim, the stairs suddenly gave way in a partial collapse, sending Firefighter/Paramedic Henderson crashing into the wall and knocking Lieutenant Doherty down; and
WHEREAS, Firefighters from Engine 117 and Truck 26, working at the rear ofthe building, quickly came to their aid, carrying the victim down the rest ofthe way and to Fire Department Ambulance 10 for care; and
WHEREAS, The victim received advanced life support treatment and was soon transported to Loretto Hospital. Thanks to the skilled efforts of the Ambulance 10 crew, the man's condition was stabilized and vastly improved by the time he arrived at the emergency room; and
WHEREAS, This rescue was indeed a textbook response by all companies working at the emergency scene. All those present showed remarkable teamwork and ability, but today we especially recognize the courage and determination of Lieutenant Kevin M. Doherty and Firefighter/Paramedic Severen Henderson who, working together seamlessly, never backed away from their objective to save lives, even while encountering fiercely hazardous conditions; and
WHEREAS, The valor shown by Lieutenant Doherty and Firefighter/Paramedic Henderson is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Chicago Fire Department; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this eighteenth day of May, 2011, do hereby honor Lieutenant Kevin M. Doherty and Firefighter/Paramedic Severen Henderson ofthe Chicago Fire Department for their heroic rescue of a victim on the verge of succumbing to a fire; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Lieutenant Kevin M. Doherty and Firefighter Severen Henderson, and placed on permanent record in their personnel files, as a token of our appreciation and esteem.