[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 844 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 844

 Honoring the lives and service of Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, 
Sydney Watson, Nathan Matthews, Nicholas Dale, and all those who serve 
   on the front lines of wildland firefighting efforts in the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 7, 2026

  Mr. Bennet (for himself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mr. Curtis) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the lives and service of Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, 
Sydney Watson, Nathan Matthews, Nicholas Dale, and all those who serve 
   on the front lines of wildland firefighting efforts in the United 
                                States.

Whereas the 2026 wildfire season has already placed extraordinary demands on 
        wildland firefighters, aviation crews, emergency responders, 
        dispatchers, and support personnel across the Western United States;
Whereas, on June 27, 2026, 2 members of the Rifle, Colorado, Helitack crew, 
        Emily Barker of Michigan and Sydney Watson of Alabama, and 1 member of 
        the Pitman Valley, Arizona, Helitack crew on temporary assignment in 
        Rifle, Colorado, Nicholas Hutcherson of Arizona, gave their lives while 
        responding to the Knowles and Gore Fires, which later merged into the 
        Snyder Fire, along the Utah-Colorado border;
Whereas 2 additional firefighters were seriously injured while responding 
        alongside their fallen colleagues, including Nathan Matthews of Nebraska 
        assigned to the Rifle Helitack crew, who died as a result of his 
        injuries on July 24, 2026;
Whereas, on July 12, 2026, firefighting pilot Nicholas Dale of British Columbia, 
        Canada, gave his life while supporting suppression efforts on the Gold 
        Mountain Fire in Colorado;
Whereas Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney Watson, Nathan Matthews, and 
        Nicholas Dale answered the call to protect others, and in doing so, gave 
        their lives;
Whereas the members of the Rifle and Pitman Valley Helitack crews carried out 
        one of the most demanding assignments in wildland firefighting, 
        deploying by helicopter into remote terrain to slow the advance of 
        dangerous wildfires; and
Whereas wildland firefighters, aviation crews, emergency responders, 
        dispatchers, and support personnel continue to put themselves in danger 
        to protect lives, communities, infrastructure, and natural resources 
        throughout the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the lives, service, and ultimate sacrifice of 
        Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney Watson, Nathan 
        Matthews, and Nicholas Dale;
            (2) expresses its deepest sympathies to their families, 
        friends, and colleagues, and recognizes the courage and 
        continued recovery of the firefighters who were injured in the 
        line of duty;
            (3) expresses the gratitude of the people of the United 
        States to the wildland firefighters, aviation crews, emergency 
        responders, dispatchers, and support personnel who continue to 
        protect communities throughout the United States;
            (4) recognizes that protecting communities from 
        catastrophic wildfire requires both responsible stewardship of 
        forests and public lands and continued support for the wildland 
        firefighters, aviation crews, emergency responders, 
        dispatchers, and support personnel who put themselves in danger 
        to protect lives, communities, and natural resources; and
            (5) invites the people of the United States to honor the 
        courage, sacrifice, and service of the men and women who risk 
        their lives each wildfire season in defense of their fellow 
        citizens.
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