2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 147
BY SENATOR MURRAY
A RESOLUTION
To commend New Orleans firefighter Roddrick C. Harrison for his heroic actions in saving
lives and combating a major fire in an inhabited dwelling in the French Quarter.
WHEREAS, Roddrick C. Harrison joined the New Orleans Fire Department on
August 23, 2009, taking the oath to protect and serve the people of his community and to
always put their lives before his own personal safety and protect them and their property;
and
WHEREAS, firefighter Harrison was off duty in the early morning hours of
Saturday, March 2, 2015, when he noticed flames coming from the roof of a house located
at Frenchman and Burgundy Streets in the French Quarter; and
WHEREAS, he immediately reported the fire and gave a description of the location
to assist responding firefighting companies as they raced to reach the burning building and
battle the growing blaze; and
WHEREAS, firefighter Harrison reached the front of the burning structure and was
met by an adult female resident of the house who desperately told him that her daughter was
trapped in an upstairs bedroom; and
WHEREAS, the off duty firefighter, without hesitation, entered the home on his
hands and knees to avoid the thick black smoke and rescued an adult male and female who
were still upstairs in the bed asleep; and
WHEREAS, firefighter Harrison was forced to drag the two inhabitants out of bed
and down the stairs due to their disorientation from the billowing smoke and confusion from
the middle-of-the-night blaze; and
WHEREAS, he got the male and female to safety but had to reenter the burning
building to rescue another male who ran back into the fire to get clothing for the female
victim; and
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WHEREAS, he was successful in forcing the second male to evacuate the fiery house
as the crew of Engine 27 of the New Orleans Fire Department arrived to battle the blaze and
he then began assisting his fellow first responders in the dangerous job before them by
hooking hoses to water hydrants and starting to extinguish the fire; and
WHEREAS, firefighter Harrison, even though he was off duty, never hesitated and
was very decisive as he performed his duties with uncommon valor and saved multiple lives
from a fiery death.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its highest commendations to New Orleans firefighter Roddrick C.
Harrison for his incredible bravery in saving lives from the early morning fire and preventing
a tragedy from resulting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
applauds firefighter Roddrick C. Harrison for his actions taken to rescue victims of the fire
and recognizes that he embodies everything that a firefighter should be when lives and
property are at risk.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Roddrick C. Harrison.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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