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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Chicago 
4Firefighter Chris Reischl, who passed away from cancer on May 
54, 2011; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, He, along with fellow Firefighter Robert 
7Mansfield, helped save a man from a burning structure early New 
8Year's Day in 2010; in honor of their efforts, both men were 
9recognized as recipients of the 2010 Firehouse Heroism awards; 
10and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, The call came in to the fire department at 
12approximately 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2010; arriving crews 
13found the two-story building on North Milwaukee in Chicago with 
14fire coming from the front and rear windows; the two 
15firefighters  made their way to the rear of the building where a 
16police officer told them a man was trapped inside; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, They entered the structure and were met by heavy 
18smoke and zero visibility; once to the top, they were forced to 
19work quickly as the fire continued to spread; to make things 
20worse, Engine 91 encountered two frozen hydrants and was unable 
21to get water to the fire; Firefighter

Mansfield attempted to 
22pry a stuck door open; his initial thought was that a dresser 
 
 
HR0329- 2 -LRB097 11835 KXB 55156 r

1was blocking the door so he removed the hinges and kicked it 
2in; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, At that point, the door fell on top of the man on 
4the other side; at that point the firefighters began to hear 
5water spraying into the structure and they were able to move 
6the man down to safety; the door may have shielded the man from 
7the smoke; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Firefighter Chris Reischl showed true dedication 
9and courage in the face of danger; we honor him for his 
10bravery; and we honor his family in their time of loss; 
11therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14we mourn the passing of Firefighter Chris Reischl and  thank him 
15posthumously for his service to the people of Chicago; and be 
16it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Firefighter Chris Reischl as a 
19symbol of our sincere sympathy.