2021 -- H 5663

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LC001609

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING PRIVATE RYAN GRIFFIN OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS FIRE

DEPARTMENT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Barros, McLaughlin, Casey, and Vella-
Wilkinson

     Date Introduced: February 23, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, As all firefighters know and carry with them into each and every fire

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situation they encounter, all fires can become erratic, unpredictable, and immensely dangerous;

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yet they consistently face the flames and protect our country’s citizenry and our property, often

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going far and beyond the call of duty; and

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     WHEREAS, On February 7th of 2021, in the middle of the night, off-duty firefighter

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Private Ryan Griffin was headed toward the fire station to work as a dispatcher for the night shift.

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As he drove down Dexter Street in the City of Central Falls, he began to notice an inordinate

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amount of smoke in the air; and

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     WHEREAS, Private Griffin soon discovered the cause. Heavy smoke was billowing from

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the roof and eaves of a one and a half story home. He quickly pulled over and called the station as

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he approached the burning home, but was initially blocked from access by a six-foot locked gate

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across the driveway; and

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     WHEREAS, As Private Griffin made his way to the front of the home, he heard a

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woman's "blood-curdling" screams for help coming from a second floor window. After visually

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locating the woman, he went to the rear of the home to try to gain entry. Unfortunately, fire was

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coming from the second floor rear door, which made entry impossible; and

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     WHEREAS, Returning to the window, Private Griffin attempted to convince the

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frightened women to climb onto the fire escape but she was too scared and clung to her dog just

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inside the window. With the fire quickly intensifying, he knew there was little time left before

 

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flames would fully engulf the second floor; and

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     WHEREAS, Taking a different approach, Private Griffin convinced the woman to throw

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her dog down into a snowbank, after which she calmed enough for him to persuade her to climb

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out and jump into his arms. The woman and her dog were miraculously saved without injury, and

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shortly thereafter, fire apparatus arrived and with the assistance of mutual aid departments, the

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fire was extinguished; and

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     WHEREAS, Through the quick thinking and amazingly heroic efforts of Private Ryan

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Griffin, a woman and her dog still have a future, and he is truly deserving of our gratitude,

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admiration, and recognition; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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recognizes and thanks Private Ryan Griffin for his heroic actions on that fateful night and for his

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dedication and service to the people of the City of Central Falls and the State; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Private Ryan Griffin of the City of Central

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Falls Fire Department.

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LC001609

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