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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The City of Victoria is celebrating the 150th |
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anniversary of the Victoria Fire Department with an open house on |
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November 6, 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1869, in response to several local fires, a group |
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of residents formed a bucket brigade and Victoria Fire Company |
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No. 1, a volunteer group that disbanded after a few months; the City |
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of Victoria formally authorized the formation of a downtown engine |
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house on June 5, 1870; the following year, C. R. Alden, a tradesman |
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with experience in fire organizations, laid the foundation for the |
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current department, and a used hand pumper was purchased from |
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Mobile, Alabama, to aid in fire-suppression efforts; and |
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WHEREAS, In the decades that followed, several other fire |
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response groups arose within the community; Fire Company No. 1 |
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formed in 1882, Hook & Ladder Company No. 2 in 1882-1883, |
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Protection Hose Company No. 3 in 1885, and Mechanic's Hose Company |
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No. 4 in 1893; over time, the department continued to modernize, |
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and in 1910, the city hired its first salaried firefighters; by |
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1930, the department was fully motorized with two combination |
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pumper and hose trucks, a straight-hose truck, and a chief's car, |
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and in 1931 Salvage Corps Company No. 5 was established; the |
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department consolidated with the City of Victoria emergency medical |
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services into one organization in 1995; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the direction of fire chief Tracy Fox, the |
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present-day Victoria FD answers approximately 11,000 service |
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requests each year and now includes teams for hazardous materials |
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response, technical rescue, and water rescue; with strong ties to |
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the community, the department also participates in a number of |
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safety and educational programs for area residents, and in 2018 it |
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was recognized for best practices by the Texas Fire Chiefs |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, For 150 years, the courageous firefighters of the |
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Victoria Fire Department have devoted themselves to protecting the |
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lives and property of their fellow citizens, and this notable |
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milestone represents a fitting opportunity to recognize their vital |
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contributions to the community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 150th |
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anniversary of the Victoria Fire Department and extend to its |
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members sincere best wishes for continued success with their |
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important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the department as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |