PRINTER'S NO. 222
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.14
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, BANTA, BOROWSKI, BRENNAN, CIRESI,
DALEY, FREEMAN, GALLAGHER, GILLEN, GREINER, HAMM, JAMES,
KENYATTA, KHAN, LABS, M. MACKENZIE, MARCELL, McNEILL,
MENTZER, NEILSON, PICKETT, POWELL, PROBST, REICHARD, ROWE,
SCHMITT, STAATS, TWARDZIK, VENKAT, VITALI, ZIMMERMAN, KOZAK,
MADDEN AND HADDOCK, JANUARY 22, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 22, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Designating April 12, 2025, as "Volunteer Firefighter Day" in
Pennsylvania to honor the brave men and women who make
sacrifices to protect their community as volunteer
firefighters.
WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters hear the fire alarm at any
hour of the day or night and rush from their homes to fight a
house fire, save passengers in a car accident or aid in other
emergency situations; and
WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters have witnessed deep tragedy
but also joy and relief when they have protected someone from
harm; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has a rich history in volunteer
firefighting; and
WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin formed the first volunteer
firefighting force, called the Union Fire Company, in 1736 and
served as America's first volunteer fire chief; and
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16 WHEREAS, In 1820, Marina Betts became the first recorded
female volunteer firefighter in Pittsburgh, and volunteered for
almost 20 years according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; and
WHEREAS, The number of volunteer firefighters in this
Commonwealth is between 36,000 and 38,000, but that number has
dropped from 300,000 in 1975; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth must find ways to promote
volunteer firefighting, especially in our rural communities;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April
12, 2025, as "Volunteer Firefighter Day" in Pennsylvania to
honor the brave men and women who make sacrifices to protect
their communities as volunteer firefighters.
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