On the Occasion of the One-Hundredth Anniversary of the Hamtramck Fire Department

Floor Speech

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the first responders of the Hamtramck Fire Department (HFD) as the community celebrates the department's centennial anniversary. This historic milestone in HFD's history is a testament to the thirty-one brave men of the department and their predecessors, who have made the safety of their community their livelihood.

First responders are a critical part of communities across our nation--dedicated individuals who are putting themselves in harm's way to ensure the safety of our communities. For the HFD, the roots of this deep commitment to its community extend all the way back to 1857, before Hamtramck was even incorporated as a village. It was then that the Hamtramck Spouters first organized and formed the Spouters Company Number Eleven. Forged with a mission of protecting the citizens of Hamtramck and their property, it formally became the Hamtramck Fire Department in 1914, and has diligently dedicated itself to fulfilling its mission.

Like all first responders, the HFD provides support and protection to the residents of its community in their moments of greatest need. This support and protection includes: responding to fire emergencies, preventing fires, mitigating hazardous situations, investigating fire emergencies for potential arson and providing emergency medical services--in 2011, the HFD responded to over 3,000 emergencies.

As the HFD has grown, it has continued to obtain and incorporate new technology, equipment and training, to strengthen its ability to protect the community. All of these resources, along with those of neighboring fire departments in Detroit and Highland Park, were put to the test on August 6, 1984, when the HFD responded to a five-alarm industrial fire. The HFD and the other responding departments were instrumental in containing this fire and preventing its spread to neighboring residences and properties. It serves as a poignant example of the important role of first responders in protecting the safety of our communities.

For the firefighters of the HFD, their commitment and dedication to their community are principles which motivate their actions, both in their first responders' duties and in the other endeavors they lead to strengthen Hamtramck. These efforts include: raising funds to support breast cancer research, leading community clean-up days and providing the support necessary for Hamtramck to hold Independence Day festivities for its residents.

Mr. Speaker, our first responders deserve our admiration, our respect and our unending gratitude for the incredible responsibility they shoulder on a daily basis. They provide the security and protection that help bind our communities together, both in their official duties and their volunteer endeavors, which are often focused on supporting the members of our communities that are most in-need. It is my honor to congratulate and thank Fire Chief Paul Wilk, the firefighters of the Hamtramck Fire Department and their families who support them, for the incredible impact they have made and continue to make on their community. The centennial of the HFD is a significant milestone in its history and I wish all of its firefighters and their families continued success and safety in their endeavor to protect the residents of Hamtramck.

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