HCR 164

R-199  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-199. House concurrent resolution congratulating the St. Albans Town Fire
Department on 50 years of remarkable community service.
                                         (H.C.R.164)
  Offered by Representatives Dickinson of St. Albans Town and Toof of St. Albans
Town
   Offered by Senators Brock and Norris
   Whereas, in 1975, St. Albans Town decided that the community’s fire protection
needs necessitated the creation of a separate volunteer fire department, and, as a parting
gesture, St. Albans City gave the new organization $60,000.00 to meet initial expenses,
and
    Whereas, the St. Albans Town Fire Department recognized the need to disburse large
quantities of water in an expedited manner and, under the insightful leadership of its first
fire chief, Roy C. Parah Sr. (for whom the firehouse is named), purchased a Maxim water
pumper, capable of releasing 1,500 gallons of water per minute, and it also “repurposed a
Chevy truck to [deliver water] to hard-to-reach houses and converted two [additional]
trucks…into tankers,” and
   Whereas, initially, firefighting vehicles were painted “OSHA yellow” on the theory
that red fire trucks were insufficiently visible, and
   Whereas, although the St. Albans City Fire Department considered refraining from
assisting colleagues in St. Albans Town, this rivalry ended as the city’s firefighters soon
appreciated their neighbors’ support, and
  Whereas, the cooperative relationship between the two departments has markedly
improved as Matt Mulheron now proudly serves as fire chief for both municipalities, and
   Whereas, the once ragtag, and now much-respected, St. Albans Town Fire Department
proudly boasts a highly trained roster of firefighters and modern equipment, and
   Whereas, in August 2025, current and former St. Albans firefighters gathered to
celebrate this historic milestone in the department’s history, now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly congratulates the St. Albans Town Fire Department on
50 years of remarkable community service, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the St. Albans Town Fire Department.
                                                                             VT LEG #387168 v.1