H*5267 Resolution, By McGinnis, Hardee, Duckworth, Johnson, Clemmons, Fry, 
Hewitt and Crawford
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE HEROISM OF SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD
 BLAKE CANNON OF HORRY COUNTY, WHOSE QUICK THINKING AND STEADY ACTIONS SAVED
 THE LIFE OF A THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD FROM FIRE.

   04/18/18  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 98)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE HEROISM OF SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BLAKE CANNON OF HORRY COUNTY, WHOSE QUICK THINKING AND STEADY ACTIONS SAVED THE LIFE OF A THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD FROM FIRE.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to honor courageous citizens in the Palmetto State who assist their neighbors in times of crisis and exhibit uncommon heroism, citizens like Blake Cannon; and

Whereas, before the Horry County Fire Rescue reached the structural fire on Windsor Green Way in Carolina Forest, five minutes after the initial 9-1-1 call on April 12, 2018, multiple calls reported a significant fire with possible victims in the building; and

Whereas, several victims were forced to jump to safety from balconies of the three-story multi-family dwelling due to the heavy volume of fire on all three floors and the attic before ladders could be positioned to provide egress for victims and firefighters; and

Whereas, sixteen-year-old Blake Cannon had run to the building from his neighboring apartment and had seen one of the victims still in the building, a three-year old child; and

Whereas, Blake positioned himself to help the child's stranded father, Joey LaFond, who trustingly dropped his three-year-old son to Blake. He successfully caught the child whose life was saved without sustaining any injuries; and

Whereas, meanwhile rescue crew members began moving injured victims, who had jumped to safety, away from danger where they could be treated. Another victim was rescued from a second floor apartment by a firefighter/EMT who entered the building, searched the apartment, and carried a victim he found to the window and down the ladder. He also successfully rescued the victim's dog; and

Whereas, with assistance from the Myrtle Beach Fire Department and the City of Conway Fire Department, there were no fatalities from this conflagration; and

Whereas, with deep gratitude, the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina commends the outstanding valor of Blake Cannon in saving the life of one of our state's young and vulnerable citizens from fire. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the heroism of sixteen-year-old Blake Cannon of Horry County whose quick thinking and steady actions saved the life of a three-year-old child from fire.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Blake Cannon.