LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Deputy Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr. upon
the occasion of receiving the Fire Safety Educator of the Year Award
from the Firemen's Association of the State of New York

WHEREAS, The firefighters of New York State are renowned throughout the
Nation; their reputation is synonymous with excellence in the arduous
field of fire protection and prevention; and
WHEREAS, Firefighters exemplify the power of human compassion and the
strength of the American spirit through actions of the most heroic
magnitude; their sacrifices and their selfless dedication merit tribute
and recognition by all citizens of this great country; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Deputy Chief
Kenneth Clair, Jr. upon the occasion of receiving the Fire Safety Educa-
tor of the Year Award from the Firemen's Association of the State of New
York at its Hudson Valley Convention held in Lake George, New York; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Brewster Fire Department, Deputy Chief
Kenneth Clair, Jr., who is better known as "Fireman Ken" among the
youngsters in Brewster, has been teaching fire safety since 1994 and has
instructed more than 6,000 children in the basics of fire prevention;
and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr. prefers a hands-on, non-alar-
mist approach in his teaching style, sitting on the floor in nursery
schools to use hand puppets and actual melted telephones and smoke
detectors as he demonstrates to his fascinated audience just how hot
fires can really be; and
WHEREAS, His teaching tactics also include using a student's mother or
father as a prop, reassuring the children that underneath all the fire-
fighting equipment there is a real person, just like their own mom and
dad; and
WHEREAS, One of Deputy Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr.'s most popular demon-
strations is his right and wrong way of escaping from the fire
prevention house he uses in his presentations; knowing children love to
correct adults when they are doing something wrong, he first shows Brew-
ster students the right way of escaping a fire and then intentionally
repeats his escape a second time, only this time making mistakes in
order to allow the children to correct his errors; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr., the past president of the
Putnam County Volunteer Firemen's Association, has held numerous posi-
tions during his tenure with the Brewster Fire Department; he has dili-
gently served as a Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief and
Chief; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr. epitomizes the role of an
inspirational educator and champion for fire prevention and has helped
make the Town of Southeast and Village of Brewster safer places to live
and work since 1994; and
WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication, a strong desire to help others
and a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with family
and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in need; Deputy
Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr. is such a firefighter; throughout his many
years of devoted service, this volunteer heroically performed, above and
beyond the call of duty, those responsibilities which define the task of
fire protection; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Deputy Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr. upon the occasion of receiving
the Fire Safety Educator of the Year Award from the Firemen's Associ-
ation of the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Deputy Chief Kenneth Clair, Jr.