HJ 729 — Commending the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23106548D I HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

729 OfferedE February 16, 2023 N Commending the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.

TN Patrons––Filler-Corn,R BulovaAgreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2023 Agreed to by the Senate, February 22, 2023 O WHEREAS, for 75 years, the Burke Volunteer Fire and Watts;Rescue Department has safeguarded the lives L and property of the residents of the Burke community in Fairfax County;

Senator:and L WHEREAS, the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department traces its roots to 1947, when a group of local residents recognized the need for a more conveniently located fire station;

Marsdenat Rthe ––––––––––time, WHEREAS,the forE 75neaWHEREAS, years, the Burke Volunteer Fire andDepartment Rescuewas Departmentincorporated hason safeguardedJanuary the29, lives1948, andwith propertya ofD theservice residentsarea of the91 Burkesquare communitymiles, inrepresenting Fairfaxabout County;9,000 residents;

andthe Dcommunity WHEREAS,raised themoney Burketo Volunteerbuild Firea andfire Rescuestation Departmentthat tracesspring, itsand rootsthe tobuilding 1947,remained whenin ause groupby ofthe localcommunity residentsfor recognized the neednext for50 ayears, moreincluding convenientlyas locatedthe fireBurke station;Post Office;

atand WHEREAS, the time,Burke theVolunteer nearestFire departmentsDepartment's werefirst locatedapparatus inwas Annandalea and1932 whatFord wasfire thentruck thethat Townbecame ofaffectionately Fairfax;known as "Old Red";

andandon Cfrom WHEREAS, the BurkeAnnandale Volunteer Fire Department wasWHEREAS, incorporatedin on1949, Januarythe 29,Burke 1948,Volunteer withFire aDepartment buildhad a47 fireactive stationvolunteers that spring, and theresponded buildingH remainedto in26 usecalls by the community for theservice; next 50 years, including as the Burke Post Office;

and D7 WHEREAS, theas BurkeFairfax VolunteerCounty Firegrew Department'sand firstmore apparatusfire wasdepartments awere 1932established, Fordthe firecounty truck9 purchasedimplemented bya thenumbering Burkesystem Communitiesto Civicenhance Associationcoordination, fromand the AnnandaleBurke Volunteer Fire Department thatR becamebecWHEREAS, affectionatelyin knownthe as1950s, "Oldthe Red";county also began assigning paid, professional firefighters to volunteer stations;

and WHEREAS, in 1949, the Burke Volunteer Fire Department had 47 active volunteers and responded to 26 calls for service;

and WHEREAS, as Fairfax County grew and more fire departments were established, the county became known as Company 14;

andto enhance coordination, and the Burke Volunteer Fire Department WHEREAS, in the 1950s, the county also began assigning paid, professional firefighters to volunteer stations;

and WHEREAS, in 1963, the Burke Volunteer Fire Department also constructed a new fire station, much of which was built by members of the department who worked in construction or other relevant professions;proWHEREAS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in 1969, the Burke Volunteer Fire Department responded to extensive flooding in low-lying areas of Burke and assisted with numerous evacuations and water rescues;

and WHEREAS, in 1971, the aftermathBurke ofVolunteer HurricaneFire CamilleDepartment inresponded 1969,to themore Burkethan Volunteer1,000 Firecalls Departmentfor emergency service, including structure fires, brush fires, vehicle crashes, water rescues;rescues, and medical emeWHEREAS, calls for service increased steadily as the community expanded, reaching more than 2,000 calls per year in the late 1980s;

andsiveby flooding1989, inthe low-lying areas of Burke andVolunteer assistedFire withDepartment numeroushad evacuationsbecome and WHEREAS, in 1971, the Burkelargest Volunteervolunteer Firefire Departmentdepartment respondedin toFairfax moreCounty thanwith 1,000seven callsvehicles, for70 emergencyvolunteers, service,and including30 structurecareer fires,staff brushserving fires,an vehicle11-square-mile crashes,area waterwith rescues,a andpopulation medicalof emergencies;47,000 people;

and 35 WHEREAS, callsin for1991, service increased steadily as the communityBurke expanded,Volunteer reachingFire moreDepartment thanreceived 36approval 2,000to callspurchase peran yearaerial ladder in theone lateplatform; 1980s;

byand 1989,a "Quint" that incorporated the Burkefunctions Volunteerof Firea Departmentpumper hadtruck becomeand thean /WHEREAS, 37recognizing largestthe volunteerway fireits departmentmission inhad Fairfaxevolved Countyover withthe sevenyears, vehicles,the 70Burke volunteers,Volunteer andFire 30Department careerchanged 38its staffname servingto anthe 11-square-mileBurke areaVolunteer withFire aand populationRescue ofDepartment 47,000in people;1992;

and innovative hybrid vehicle known as a "Quint" that incorporated the functions of a pumper truck and an aerial ladder in one platform;

and WHEREAS, recognizing the way its mission had evolved over the years, the Burke Volunteer Fire Department changed its name to the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in 1992;

and WHEREAS, in 1997, the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department experienced a disaster when an electrical short in a truck started a fire in the station, which sustained significant damage despite operatingassistance from asurrounding branddepartments; new, highly advanced facility on December 4, 2001;

andnd the departmentstation beganwas WHEREAS,razed byand 2014,rebuilt, the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescuethe Departmentdepartment hadbegan grownoperating tofrom 100a activebrand members,new, whohighly recordedadvanced 31,003facility hourson answeringDecember 3,4324, calls2001; for service, the majority of which were for emergency medical service;

and WHEREAS, by 2014, the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department had grown to 100 active members, who recorded 31,003 hours answering 3,432 calls for service, the majority of which were for emeWHEREAS, the courageous, highly trained members of the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department have served residents with dedication and distinction and helped make the Burke community a great place to live, work, and raise a family;

now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby becommend itnd the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department on the occasion of its 75th anniversary;

and, HJ729be 2it of 2 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its service and contributions to the residents of Fairfax County.