III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 614 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 15, 2006 Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary November 16, 2006 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the firefighters and other public servants who responded to the devastating Esperanza Incident fire in southern California in October 2006.

Whereas, in late October 2006, the mountain communities west of Palm Springs, California were struck by a vast wildfire, which came to be known as the Esperanza Incident and which authorities believe was started by an arsonist; Whereas the Esperanza Incident fire tragically claimed lives, homes and other buildings, and more than 40,000 acres of terrain; Whereas nearly 3,000 firefighters from dozens of fire crews courageously battled the fast-spreading blaze, which was fanned by Santa Ana wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour; Whereas 4 firefighters—Mark Loutzenhiser, Jess McLean, Jason McKay, and Daniel Hoover-Najera—made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives when flames overtook them as they tried to protect a home; Whereas an additional firefighter, Pablo Cerda, joined them in that sacrifice when he too lost his life, after fighting to survive for 6 days in a hospital before succumbing to burns he had received fighting alongside his fallen colleagues; Whereas firefighters honored the spirit of their fallen colleagues by completing the job they started and controlling the blaze, even while recognizing considerable danger to their own well-being; Whereas skilled and courageous aircraft personnel and additional emergency personnel, including law enforcement and medical personnel, also responded to the threat posed by the fire; and Whereas law enforcement personnel are aggressively pursuing the conviction of the arsonist, and generous Californians have offered additional funds, on top of those offered by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, to help bring the arsonist to justice: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes and honors— (A)all of the firefighters who responded to the devastating Esperanza Incident fire in southern California in October 2006; and (B)all others, including emergency, law enforcement, and medical personnel and aircraft crews, who contributed to controlling the fire, keeping Californians safe, and finding and arresting the suspected arsonist; and (2)commends the firefighters and other personnel who responded to the fire for dedicated service to the people of California.