SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2012 SESSION

12105795D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 529
Offered March 5, 2012
Commending Jack Gates III.
----------
Patrons-- Marshall, D.W. and Merricks; Senator: Stanley
----------

WHEREAS, Jack Gates III, a member of Brosville Community Volunteer Fire & Rescue, is commended for his courageous acts and quick thinking when his department’s firehouse caught fire; and

WHEREAS, on the evening of January 26, 2012, a fire broke out at the Brosville fire station, less than two hours after members of the fire company had left the building; Jack Gates and Carole Brown, a fellow firefighter who was also nearby, each raced to the fire; and

WHEREAS, when he arrived, despite seeing flames shooting out of a vehicle bay and through a door into an older section of the firehouse, Jack Gates immediately took stock and in a heroic effort rushed to climb in and drive one fire truck out of the building to safety; and

WHEREAS, knowing that it was imperative to save as much equipment as possible, Jack Gates hurried back into the burning building, a place where he had spent many hours over the years, and was able to drive a second vehicle, a 2009 tanker, to safety; and

WHEREAS, Jack Gates immediately drove the tanker truck toward the closest fire hydrant, about 100 feet distant, backed it into proper position, and set about hooking up the pumper to the water source and laying fire lines, preparing to fight the fire; and

WHEREAS, other members of the department soon arrived to tackle the blaze and Jack Gates stayed with the truck he had just saved; he manned the pumping apparatus and the conflagration was largely under control soon afterward with no injuries, although damage to the station was estimated to be $1 million; and

WHEREAS, the valiant efforts of Jack Gates helped save firefighting apparatus worth hundreds of thousands of dollars; his instincts and training are the results of years of hard work and dedication to the fire department and his community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend a brave and heroic volunteer firefighter, Jack Gates III; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Jack Gates III as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect and admiration for his selfless and heroic actions.