H*5163 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H*5163 Concurrent Resolution, By Delleney
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE CHIEF OF THE
RICHBURG VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, BARNETTE (BARNEY) NICHOLS, OF CHESTER
COUNTY UPON RECEIVING THE JAMES B. MURPHY SOUTH CAROLINA FIREFIGHTER OF THE
YEAR AWARD, AN HONOR PRESENTED ANNUALLY BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA FIREMEN'S
ASSOCIATION.
05/20/98 House Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-85
05/20/98 Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-25
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO EXTEND THE SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE CHIEF OF THE RICHBURG
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, BARNETTE (BARNEY)
NICHOLS, OF CHESTER COUNTY UPON RECEIVING THE
JAMES B. MURPHY SOUTH CAROLINA FIREFIGHTER OF
THE YEAR AWARD, AN HONOR PRESENTED ANNUALLY BY
THE SOUTH CAROLINA FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly are proud to have an
opportunity to acknowledge that the Chief of the Richburg Volunteer
Fire Department, Barnette (Barney) Nichols, of Chester County was
recently selected as the South Carolina Firefighter of the Year; and
Whereas, the State award, the premier award of the South Carolina
Firemen's Association, recognizes individuals that exemplify
dedication, loyalty, productivity, and professionalism in fire service;
and
Whereas, folks who know Chief Nichols say he has demonstrated
these qualities for years, but 1997 was an exceptional year; and
Whereas, he has been the Chief of the Richburg Volunteer Fire
Department for twenty-two years; and
Whereas, on December 13-14, Chief Nichols demonstrated unusual
leadership during one of the most bizarre events to ever happen in the
Richburg area -- "the hostage situation on I-77". It
occurred near the southbound rest area on the interstate near Exit 65,
following a police chase from the Charlotte area involving a man
driving a tractor trailer truck. He told police by CB radio that he was
holding a hostage (his girlfriend) and also, reportedly threatened
suicide. The event lasted for fourteen hours. All lanes of the
interstate were closed. The SWAT team from the South Carolina
State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrived on the scene, as did
local law officials, the Richburg Fire Department, and both television
and newspaper reporters. Fire Chief Nichols, however, kept his cool
during the standoff and kept saying all night he had the resources to
resolve the matter. The officials on the scene were awaiting the
arrival of SLED Chief Robert Stewart. Shortly after Chief Stewart
arrived, he conferred with Fire Chief Nichols and the plan was made.
The clever idea was to literally flush the suspect out of his truck with
water and tear gas. Fire Chief Nichols boarded the Richburg Fire
Department's new pumper truck, a-state-of-the-art vehicle with a top
mounted deluge gun (a high-pressure water hose, which is easy to
aim and hold steady). The distraught suspect was led to believe that
the fire truck was just going to wet the pavement underneath the truck
to prevent a fire from fuel that was leaking from the vehicle. When
he was close enough to the truck, he pointed his hose at the pavement
under the truck, and then he aimed the deluge gun of the fire truck at
the windows of the cab of the truck. Following the drenching, SLED
agents tossed three canisters of tear gas into the cab of the truck, and
the suspect could not hold out any more. The suspect surrendered
and the stalemate was over. It was discovered he didn't have a
hostage after all. All agreed that what Chief Nichols had done that
morning was extraordinary; and
Whereas, just two weeks following the I-77 standoff, Chief Nichols
managed another tense situation involving water and fire trucks at the
Chester County Hospital. A small leak in an underground pipe
evolved into a major line breakage. The level in the water storage
tanks dropped drastically, and the water pressure fell off. Because
the hospital is situated at the highest elevation in the county, the
water supply at the facility was threatened. On that cold, December
day, Chief Nichols spearheaded the volunteer fire department effort
to keep a constant supply of water in the hospital. Under his
direction, firefighters from Richburg, Lando, South Chester, and
Chester hauled in tankers of water and pumped it into the hospital.
Approximately 25,000 gallons of water were hauled to the hospital
and 1,200 gallons of water per hour were pumped into the hospital
system. Again, a crisis situation was eliminated due to Chief Barney
Nichol's quick thinking; and
Whereas, he has been a dedicated and hard-working public servant
for years and never seeks public recognition; and
Whereas, Barney Nichols talks modestly about the award, which will
be officially presented in July. Never in his wildest dreams did he
expect to receive this honor and feels it represents the work of a lot
of good, dedicated firemen, not just himself; and
Whereas, his wife of forty-seven years, Jean, says she is certainly
proud of her husband, but her outlook is one of modesty, too.
"Barney just does what he has to do," she says; and
Whereas, as a citizen, a family man, and as Fire Chief of the
Richburg Volunteer Fire Department his service to others has been
his constant pursuit and in this pursuit, he has performed without
equal; and
Whereas, Barnette "Barney" Nichols is highly deserving
of recognition and of an expression of gratitude for all that he has
accomplished and we extend to him our best wishes for the future.
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate
concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina, by this resolution, extend their sincere congratulations to
the Chief of the Richburg Volunteer Fire Department, Barnette
(Barney) Nichols, of Chester County upon receiving the James B.
Murphy South Carolina Firefighter of the Year Award, an honor
presented annually by the South Carolina Firemen's Association.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to
Fire Chief Barnette "Barney" Nichols.
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