Fiscal Note
No expenditure required.
Title
Recognition of Assistant Fire Chief George Burke upon his retirement after spending more than 31 years serving our community.
Body
WHEREAS, Assistant Fire Chief George Burke started with the Madison Fire Department on August 5, 1974 and retired on January 4, 2006 after more than 31 years of dedicated service to our community; and
WHEREAS, he has occupied the positions of firefighter, firefighter/paramedic, Fire Investigator, Fire Lieutenant, Training Captain, Division Chief and Assistant Fire Chief; and
WHEREAS, he has responded to such unforgettable incidents as the ice storm of 1976 resulting in 20 straight hours on the road, the surge at Camp Randall after the Michigan game, the City-County Building shooting resulting in the deaths of some County employees and numerous other major calls; and
WHEREAS, as a Fire Investigator he also worked such major fires as the Washington Hotel, Central Storage Warehouse and the Mad City Cafe; and
WHEREAS, he dedicated his years as an Assistant Fire Chief to the standardization of vehicles and equipment, providing portable radios to all fire personnel on duty, and to fund raising with Channel 27, Shockley Communications, to purchase the first Thermal Imaging Cameras in the Department; and
WHEREAS, he worked on major building improvement projects at Fire Stations No. 3, 1 and Administration, the construction of Fire Station No. 11 and land purchases for three future fire stations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council express their appreciation for the services and dedication that Assistant Fire Chief George Burke gave to our community during his years of services; and
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that he will be missed and that we wish him the best in his retirement from the Fire Department.