Senate Resolution No. 2483

BY: Senator RATH

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
creation of Clarence Fire District No. 1

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
100th Anniversary of the creation of Clarence Fire District No. 1, and
to honor its past and present firefighting members for half a century of
fire protection to the citizens of Clarence, New York, and its
surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious milestone will be recognized at a 100 Year
Anniversary Celebration and Truck Rededication Ceremony on Saturday, May
21, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 100
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of Clarence Fire District
No. 1 have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and have
won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and

WHEREAS, The first Clarence Fire Company was organized in March of
1916, and was comprised of 25 members, headed by four officers; this
group of men volunteered their time and service to the protection of the
property of all citizens of Clarence against fire, and by means of
subscription, were able to purchase the fire hall at the top of Academy
Hill; and

WHEREAS, On March 27, 1920, a petition was presented to the Clarence
Town Board proposing the formation of a fire corporation to be known as
the Clarence Fire Company; it was two years later, in 1922, that a fire
district was formed; this was the first fire district to be set up in
the Town of Clarence; and

WHEREAS, Soon after the creation of the new Clarence Fire Company, a
one-and-a-half-ton fire engine which was installed with a 440-gallon
chemical tank outfit was purchased alongside a new siren, allowing the
Company to relieve itself from relying on the local church bells in
emergencies; and

WHEREAS, The Clarence Fire District has had three fire houses over
the past 100 years; the first was located on Academy Hill, then, in the
summer of 1954, the District purchased a large lot on the south side of
Bodine Road, east of Parker Elementary School, where the second fire
house was constructed a year later; it eventually moved one last time on
January 1, 1974, to its present location at 10355 Main Street; and

WHEREAS, Well-established and ready for numerous types of
emergences, the Clarence Volunteer Fire Company provides fire, EMS,
rescue, hazardous materials, rural search and rescue, and ice rescue
services to the members of its communities; and

WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of Clarence Fire District No. 1 are
prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the lives of others

and to protect homes and property from the destruction caused by fire;
and

WHEREAS, Working to ensure the vitality and success of the Clarence
Volunteer Fire Company are its present-day officers who include Fire
Chief Brett Hanford, First Assistant Chief Ruth Rider-Work, President
Ken Beil, and Vice President Zach Braunschidel; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express enough gratitude to
those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should
give special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the
betterment of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic
good works performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great
Empire State, their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the creation of Clarence Fire
District No. 1 of Clarence, New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the aforementioned officers of Clarence Fire District No.
1.