MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Thames

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE TAYLORSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE TAYLORSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE TO THE MASSIVE FIRE IN DOWNTOWN TAYLORSVILLE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1999.

WHEREAS, a quick and massive response by the Taylorsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Taylorsville Police Department and by area volunteer fire departments on Sunday, January 31, 1999, prevented a building fire from destroying downtown Taylorsville, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, more than 20 units from Smith and surrounding counties responded to a call for help as the old Melroy Theater, a familiar Taylorsville landmark which housed the May Appliance Center, became engulfed in flames that destroyed the building; and

WHEREAS, with assistance from volunteer fire departments from Mize, Raleigh, Sylvarena, Richton, Shady Grove, Hebron, Pleasant Ridge, Powers, Soso, Myrick, Moselle, Mill Creek, Boggy Creek, Northeast Jones, Sharon, Glade, Johnson, Mendenhall, Magee, Collins, Hot Coffee, East Covington, Stringer and Bay Springs, the 22-member Taylorsville Volunteer Fire Department battled the blaze until about 2:00 a.m. Monday, February 1, 1999; and

WHEREAS, according to official reports, flames had broken through the roof of the building and blazed to a height of over 20 feet, threatening to quickly spread to other structures due to the radiation of so much heat; and

WHEREAS, firemen saturated the walls with water from a bucket truck that Entergy had provided to prevent the fire from spreading until help arrived, and it would have been worse if not for the incredible response from other fire departments; and

WHEREAS, personnel from the Mize Police Department, Smith County Sheriff's Department, Soso Police Department, Jones County Sheriff's Department and Jasper County Sheriff's Department, along with the Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross and the AMR Ambulance Service also responded to provide assistance, and all are to be praised for their work; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the hard work and quick response of all these Mississippians who helped their neighbor when they were most needed, by preventing a building fire from destroying a Mississippi town:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend the Taylorsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Taylorsville Police Department for their quick response to the massive fire in downtown Taylorsville on Sunday, January 31, 1999, and express our appreciation to all other units that assisted in this effort.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to the Chief of the Taylorsville Volunteer Fire Department, the Taylorsville Chief of Police and the Mayor of Taylorsville on behalf of all personnel responding to the fire, and that copies be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.