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

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

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

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

going far and beyond the call of duty; and

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

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

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

amount of smoke in the air; and

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

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

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

across the driveway; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

flames would fully engulf the second floor; and

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

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

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

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

fire was extinguished; and

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

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

admiration, and recognition; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

Falls Fire Department.

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LC001609

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