State Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL-Austin) will officially congratulate area fire departments and deliver a Senate resolution honoring them for their service at 3 p.m. Friday at the Austin Fire Department, 122 First Ave. N.E. in Austin.

Sparks presented a resolution to the Minnesota Senate honoring the fire departments of Austin, Albert Lea, Brownsdale, Blooming Prairie and Rose Creek for their coordinated help in fighting the fire that consumed downtown Austin Jan. 15.

The firefighters had to brave temperatures as low as 25 degrees below zero and spent nearly 24 hours trying to save several downtown Austin buildings.

That Resolution, in addition to official congratulations, will be presented to area departments at Friday’s event. Fire Chief Dan Wilson from Austin, Chief Paul Stieler from Albert Lea, Chief Kurt Underwood from Blooming Prairie, Chief David Pike from Brownsdale, and Chief Fred Ulven from Rose Creek have been invited.