[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 185 (Wednesday, November 8, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H5550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING DEPUTY CHIEF MIKE MERNICK OF THE WARWICK FIRE DEPARTMENT

  (Mr. Magaziner asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic actions 
of Deputy Chief Mike Mernick of the Warwick Fire Department.
  Mike and his wife, Tara, were enjoying a night out in Providence, not 
long ago, when they noticed a fire had broken out at a nearby home on 
Goddard Street.
  When he saw the smoke coming out of the triple-decker and realized 
there were people trapped inside the building, the off-duty, 28-year-
old firefighter sprang into action.
  He ran into the burning building with two Providence police officers 
at his side, covered in no protective gear or equipment. He just knew 
there was no time to waste.
  They headed up two flights of smoke-filled stairs where they found a 
mother with her two children and rushed them out to safety. Mernick 
remained in the building, clearing each floor, as the fire raged around 
him.
  Thanks to the quick actions of Deputy Chief Mernick and the two 
officers, all eight people in the building were rescued safely.
  Deputy Chief Mernick's actions are a reminder that firefighters are 
heroes in every sense of the word.

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