SJ217: Commending Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 217
Commending Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, March 4, 2010
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2010
 

WHEREAS, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen, Fairfax County 2009 First Responder Fire Fighters of the Year, were honored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith, Inc., with a prestigious 2010 Best of Reston award; and

WHEREAS, the Best of Reston awards were established to recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the Reston community and improving the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen are fire fighters who work at Reston?s Wiehle Avenue Fire Station on the 1st Battalion B-Shift; and

WHEREAS, dispatched on a May morning in 2009 to a residential fire in Reston, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen arrived with other officers and fire fighters to find smoke issuing from a vent pipe on the roof; and

WHEREAS, after forcing a door open, the crew immediately encountered smoke conditions and visible fire in the rear of the home, with fire rolling along the hallway ceiling from the rear of the house toward the front door; and

WHEREAS, the engine company advanced on the fire, pushing it back to provide a safer environment for the truck company crew to perform search operations on the top level above the fire; and

WHEREAS, once the fire was pushed back and contained, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen ascended the stairs to search for anyone who was trapped in the blaze; and

WHEREAS, while moving on their hands and knees in zero visibility conditions, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen located an unconscious and unresponsive victim lying on the floor of a bedroom; they brought her downstairs and transferred her to EMS care immediately, and then rushed back upstairs to complete their search for more victims; and

WHEREAS, the entire team demonstrated flawless precision and a high caliber of leadership, situational awareness, crew unity and performance, coordination of effort, and communication of actions and findings; and

WHEREAS, as a result of Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen?s heroic actions, the victim was rescued and resuscitated; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen on their outstanding service to the residents of Northern Virginia and on their well-deserved honor as 2010 Best of Reston award recipients; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen as an expression of the General Assembly?s gratitude for their efforts on behalf of the community of Reston.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 217
Offered February 25, 2010
Commending Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen.
Patrons-- Howell; Delegates: Plum and Rust

WHEREAS, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen, Fairfax County 2009 First Responder Fire Fighters of the Year, were honored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith, Inc., with a prestigious 2010 Best of Reston award; and

WHEREAS, the Best of Reston awards were established to recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the Reston community and improving the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen are fire fighters who work at Reston?s Wiehle Avenue Fire Station on the 1st Battalion B-Shift; and

WHEREAS, dispatched on a May morning in 2009 to a residential fire in Reston, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen arrived with other officers and fire fighters to find smoke issuing from a vent pipe on the roof; and

WHEREAS, a door was forced open, and the crew was immediately met with smoke conditions and visible fire in the rear of the home, with fire rolling along the hallway ceiling from the rear of the house toward the front door; and

WHEREAS, the Engine Company advanced on the fire, pushing it back to provide a safer environment for the Truck Company crew to perform search operations on the top level above the fire; and

WHEREAS, once the fire was pushed back and contained, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen ascended the stairs to search for anyone who was trapped in the blaze; and

WHEREAS, while moving on their hands and knees in zero visibility conditions, Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen located an unconscious and unresponsive victim lying on the floor of a bedroom; they brought her downstairs and transferred her to EMS care immediately, and then rushed back upstairs to complete their search for more victims; and

WHEREAS, the entire team demonstrated flawless precision and a high caliber of leadership, situational awareness, crew unity and performance, coordination of effort, and communication of actions and findings; and

WHEREAS, as a result of Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen?s heroic actions, the victim was rescued and resuscitated; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen on their outstanding service to the residents of Northern Virginia and on their well-deserved honor as 2010 Best of Reston award recipients; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ronald McNew and Craig Furneisen as an expression of the General Assembly?s gratitude for their efforts on behalf of the community of Reston.