[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRE SERVICE

                                 ______


                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 1995

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and 
women of the American fire service who answered the call when fire 
threatened my district in Long Island. In a situation that could have 
been catastrophic to the people of Long Island, I learned firsthand the 
skills and generosity of the American fire service.
  As everyone knows, the recent drought in New York led to the terrible 
wildfires which swept across Long Island this fall. The local fire 
service, aided by colleagues from across the country, fought heroically 
to fight the fires. Despite arid conditions and a heavy fuel load, the 
terrific firefighters were able to protect the residents of Eastern 
Long Island from any loss of life.
  I am extremely pleased to report that all is now quiet on Eastern 
Long Island. The raging fire is no more; thanks to the determination 
and hard work of 3,000 firefighters who came from all over Suffolk and 
Nassau Counties, New York and even Connecticut; along with county, 
State and Federal fire experts.
  Tired and exhausted, our firefighters dug deep to find the strength 
to carry on the face of such an ominous foe. They put the health and 
welfare of an entire Eastern Long Island community ahead of their own 
safety to stop the raging flames. The perseverance, determination, 
bravery, and courage of some 5,000 firefighters, police, emergency 
medical and other personnel can be summed up simply with the words of 
Bruce Stark, a 24-year-old firefighter from East Islip: ``Civilians are 
depending on us, and if they bail out we have no hope.''
  Our heartfelt thanks go out to each and very firefighter who 
selflessly worked for days to extinguish the mammoth fire.
  In those few days we witnessed first hand the acts of Long Island's 
solid-gold, true blue American heroes and on behalf of all of us in the 
community, I express the utmost gratitude to all who worked so 
successfully to save our homes, our businesses, our schools, and our 
churches and synagogues.
  It is a tribute to the hard work and training of the American Fire 
Service and the firefighters of Long Island that the fires on Long 
Island didn't do more damage than they did. It is my pleasure to use 
the occasion of Fire Prevention Week to thank all the firefighters for 
what they did for the people of Long Island.

                          ____________________