LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Cobleskill Fire Department upon the
occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2013 James W. Wright
Public Education Award by the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body has the deepest pride and admiration for
the fire departments of New York State which perform the crucial work of
fire protection and fire prevention; and
WHEREAS, The courageous and devoted firefighters of the Cobleskill
Fire Department of Cobleskill, New York, valiantly respond to all types
of fire emergencies and engage in vital activities which help to prevent
the loss of life and property from fires; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the Cobleskill
Fire Department upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the
2013 James W. Wright Public Education Award by the New York State Asso-
ciation of Fire Chiefs, celebrated during the opening ceremony of the
40th Annual Public Fire Safety Educators' Conference on Saturday, May 4,
2013, at the New York State Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls,
New York; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs has presented
this prestigious award since 1995, in recognition of an individual or
department for outstanding effort in delivering fire and life safety
public education programs; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, under the luminous direction and leadership of
Cobleskill President and Fire Prevention Coordinator William Johnson,
Cobleskill Fire Department revamped its Fire Prevention Awareness
Program, and has seen great success in reaching the community; the
program is targeted toward the entire community, including children and
toddlers, college students, adults, seniors, and citizens with disabili-
ties; and
WHEREAS, The Cobleskill Fire Department and its Fire Prevention Team
reaches over 1300 residents via schools, businesses, housing develop-
ments, and the department's Fire Prevention Open House, held annually in
October; and
WHEREAS, During the Fire Prevention Open House, the department offers
hands on demonstrations to adults and children; through collaboration
with the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, a Smoke
Trailer and Fire Extinguisher Hands-on Training Simulator is utilized
for family participation and education; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the annual Fire Prevention Program, during Fire
Prevention Week, educates over 850 school children beginning in pre-kin-
dergarten; firefighters visit each classroom individually, give fire
safety demonstrations, and provide each child with fire safety informa-
tion, as well as a tour of the truck; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Cobleskill Fire Department have a strong
dedication and commitment to public and life safety education, and are
therefore worthy of the highest praise and recognition; 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 fire departments of this great Empire State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Cobleskill Fire Department upon the occasion of its desig-
nation as recipient of the 2013 James W. Wright Public Education Award
by the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Cobleskill Fire Department.