ENGROSSED SENATE
CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION NO. 14	By:	Bingman, Adelson, Aldridge, Anderson, Ballenger, Barrington, Bass, Branan, Brogdon, Brown, Burrage, Coates, Coffee, Corn, Crain, Crutchfield, Easley, Eason McIntyre, Ellis, Ford, Garrison, Gumm, Halligan, Ivester, Johnson (Constance), Johnson (Mike), Jolley, Justice, Lamb, Laster, Leftwich, Lerblance, Marlatt, Mazzei, Myers, Newberry, Nichols, Paddack, Reynolds, Rice, Russell, Schulz, Sparks, Stanislawski, Sweeden, Sykes, Wilson and Wyrick of the Senate

			and

		McNiel of the House

A Concurrent Resolution praising volunteer firefighters; mourning the loss of volunteer firefighter John Adams; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, on Friday, February 20, 2009, grass fires burned out of control a few miles west of the Highway 51-Highway 48 Intersection near Mannford, Oklahoma.  The grass fire eventually covered 600 acres.  The 12-member Silver City Fire Department and other area fire departments spent the next twelve hours battling the blaze.  A total of nine fire departments, 23 brush trucks, three tankers, two pumpers, a Blackhawk helicopter, and 60 firefighters were necessary to contain the conflagration.  A number of outbuildings were destroyed and some homes sustained minor damage; and
WHEREAS, John Adams, his wife Marcie Adams, and son Drew Canady, all aggressively trained to become fully qualified for wildland firefighting, structural firefighting, vehicle firefighting, rescue and extraction, and medical response.  They are members of a unique fraternity of men and women who risk their lives daily for the sake of others.  They put their lives on the line.  They do not do this for compensation.  They do it for the community.  That is what kind of people they are; and
WHEREAS, John Adams, a 45-year-old volunteer firefighter, died on duty, after fighting a 12-hour wildfire west of Mannford, Oklahoma.  A Silver City Volunteer Firefighter for the past three years and a board member of the fire department, John Adams laid down his life for those he loved and those he did not know; and
WHEREAS, John Adams was a brother in arms with his fellow firefighters.  He was a visionary board member, a loving father and husband.  He was expected to become an officer in his department in the near future.  John Adams leaves behind a wife, Marcie, and five children, Nicole Canady, Drew Canady, Douglas Adams, James Adams and Cheyanne Adams.  Marcie and Drew continue to volunteer to fight fires and have already responded since John's death; and
WHEREAS, John Adams was a 1981 graduate of Sand Springs High School and was a manager at Lowe’s.  He enjoyed camping and fishing.  Adams had served as a Silver City Volunteer Firefighter for more than three years and was a member of their board since 2006; and
WHEREAS, approximately 200 Oklahoma firefighters from 27 fire departments attended the funeral ceremony.  Forty-five fire trucks and command cars were included in the two-mile-long procession to the Oakhill Cemetery.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:
THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature praises the work of all Oklahoma volunteer firefighters, recognizing that their hard work and bravery are often overlooked and not adequately appreciated by those whom they protect.
THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature mourns the loss of Silver City Volunteer Firefighter John Adams and joins with the residents of the Silver City community and the firefighting community in extending its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Adams.
THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to John Adams’ wife, Marcie Adams, an EMT for Mannford and also a Silver City Volunteer Firefighter; his son Drew Canady, also a volunteer firefighter; his brother-in-law Brett Whitten, a Mannford firefighter; and his other children, Nicole Canady, Douglas Adams, James Adams and Cheyanne Adams.
Adopted by the Senate the 23rd day of March, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate

Adopted by the House of Representatives the ____ day of _______, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer  of the House
							    of Representatives