[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 98 (Monday, July 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  HONORING THREE FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Senate Resolution 244, a resolution 
submitted earlier today by Senators Bingaman and Domenici honoring the 
three Federal firefighters who died in a helicopter crash while on 
their way to fight a fire in the Gila National Forest; that the 
resolution and the preamble be agreed to; the motions to reconsider be 
laid on the table en bloc and any statements thereon appear in the 
Record at the appropriate place as though read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 244) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 244

       Whereas on July 12, 1994, three Federal firefighters from 
     the United States Forest Service perished in a helicopter 
     crash near Silver City, New Mexico while on their way to 
     fight a fire in the Gila National Forest;
       Whereas the three firefighters who gave their lives were 
     Bob Boomer, pilot, from Spokane, Washington, Sean Gutierrez, 
     Gila/Mimbres Helitack, from Silver City, New Mexico, and Sam 
     Smith, Gila/Mimbres Helitack, from Las Cruces, New Mexico; 
     and
       Whereas these brave men gave their lives in an attempt to 
     protect lives, property, and natural resources: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate honors, and will always remember, 
     Bob Boomer, Sean Gutierrez, and Sam Smith, the three Federal 
     firefighters who died on July 12, 1994, for their heroic 
     efforts in attempting to fight a fire in the Gila National 
     Forest, in order to protect lives, property, and natural 
     resources.

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to three 
brave men who died in a helicopter crash in my hometown of Silver City, 
NM while on their way to fight a fire in the Gila National Forest. For 
as long as I can remember, Silver City has been the center of activity 
during the fire season. Ground crews, smokejumpers, and helitack crews 
have been part of our community life for years. This is not only 
because the fires came to the Gila, but because the firefighters 
themselves came from our town, our county, our State. Today, I 
introduce this resolution to honor those who died on July 12, 1994, and 
give thanks for the lives of the survivors--those who survived that 
awful accident, and the many others who came home safely from their 
efforts in the forest.
  Sean Gutierrez and Sam Smith were sons of New Mexico. Robert Boomer, 
their pilot, was from Washington. Westerners all, they did the hard and 
heavy work of fighting forest fires. People who have not lived as we 
have lived with a forest in our backyard might not be able to 
appreciate or understand the courage it takes to do this work. Physical 
strength and mental toughness, stamina and self-control, support that 
courage and make it work. Firefighters know better than anyone what 
Kipling meant when he wrote about

     * * * forcing your heart and nerve and sinew
     To serve your turn long after they are gone
     And so hold on when there is nothing in you
     Except the Will which says to them: Hold on.

  Such was the kind of challenge these men faced, and which many 
firefighters continue to face this hot, dry, dangerous summer out West. 
The land they seek to protect and the people they serve so faithfully 
could have no better allies. We are truly, and humbly, in their debt.
  Mr. President, it grieves us all deeply to add these three men to the 
toll already taken by the Western fires this summer. Fourteen 
firefighters lost their lives in a firestorm in Colorado just 6 days 
before this crash. In this season of sadness and death, we know that 
the rain will come, the forest will grow back, and the land will heal. 
The broken hearts, however, will never fully recover from the loss of 
these lives. Faith and love will help ease the pain, but the memories 
of what was and the dreams of what might have been will be with these 
families, these friends, these colleagues forever.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, the Senate recently passed a resolution 
honoring the 14 firefighters who lost their lives on Storm King 
Mountain in Colorado. The awful reality of that event had barely been 
grasped when I learned of yet another tragedy, this time in my own 
State of New Mexico. On July 12, 1994, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a 
helicopter, on its way to the guide fire on the Gila National Forest, 
went down with four members of the Gila/Mimbres Helitak crew and the 
pilot. Two crew members survived. Tragically, the pilot and two of the 
helitak crew members were killed. In honor of these valiant civil 
servants, I am cosponsoring this tribute to them.
  I would like to tell you a little about the three individuals who 
died. Perhaps this will help you understand the special qualities 
possessed by the men and women who routinely risk their lives to 
protect our natural resources. They were:
  Robert Boomer, age 41, helicopter pilot--``Boomer'', as he was known, 
was a native of Spokane, WA and a veteran helicopter pilot working 
under contract to the Forest Service out of Van Nuys, CA. He had 
received his rotor wing training in the Army and had over 4,000 hours 
of helicopter flying with 1,200 hours experience flying in mountainous 
terrain. He had formerly worked taking tourists on sightseeing 
excursions over the Grand Canyon. He received his Forest Service 
certification training at the Gila National Forest helibase. He is 
described as having been a very professional and conservative pilot, 
excited about working for the Forest Service and fighting fires. He is 
survived by his mother, four brothers and a sister, and four children 
from a previous marriage. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and working with 
remote control airplanes.
  Anthony Sean Gutierrez, age 20, Gila Helitak crewmember--Sean was a 
native of Silver City, NM. He was enrolled at New Mexico State 
University in Las Cruces majoring in wildlife biology. Upon graduation, 
Sean's desire was to follow in his father's footsteps and make a career 
with the Forest Service. He took great pride in working for the Forest 
Service fighting fire and following what had become a family tradition. 
Family members, friends and coworkers have described Sean as being a 
happy, enthusiastic young man who was very close to his parents and 
sister. He enjoyed life, making others laugh, and playing guitar and 
singing. Sean will be remembered for his enthusiasm for life, his love 
to joke with people, and for his fun-loving spirit.
  Samuel Catarino Smith, age 34, Gila Helitak crewmember--Sam was a 
native of Las Cruces and had worked for the Forest Service for 7 years 
as a seasonal employee. He had graduated from New Mexico State 
University in 1992 with a degree in business administration. Sam 
enjoyed outdoor activities and was enthusiastic about helicopters and 
rapelling. He was married and his wife Tammy is expecting a baby this 
year. Sam's wife describes him as having a heart of gold and a 
willingness to bend over backwards to help others. It is said that he 
was on ``cloud nine'' with the anticipated arrival of their baby. He is 
remembered as a young man excited about life and willing to share 
thoughts on many subjects, especially Forest Service helicopters, the 
Gila National Forest, and firefighting.
  Sunday, July 17, 1994 was a sad day in Silver City, NM. On that day 
memorial services were held at Western New Mexico State University's 
Old James Stadium, to honor these three individuals.
  The circumstances that led to this tragedy are still being reviewed. 
In the meantime, other firefighters suppress their grief and continue 
to battle blazes in New Mexico and elsewhere in the west.
  In hopes that we can minimize future losses of the magnitude we've 
experienced in Colorado and New Mexico, I have asked the Secretaries of 
Agriculture and Interior to report to me on the status of their 
respective firefighting organizations and any management strategies 
they will employ to reduce the risk of future catastrophic fires. I am 
certain that they are committed, as am I, to do whatever is possible to 
avoid further disasters of this nature.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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