[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H9894-H9895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO FIREFIGHTERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Woolsey] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, if you want to hear about some brave 
firefighters, make that 2,164 extremely brave firefighters, talk to the 
people I represent in West Marin, CA. You see, over the past week, at 
least 45 homes and over 12,000 acres of Point Reyes National Seashore 
in Marin County, CA, have been destroyed by tragic wildfire, a fire 
caused by an irresponsible individual with an illegal campfire and in a 
non-campground.
  I flew over the disaster area during the initial stages of the fire 
last week, and I can tell you that I have never seen anything so mighty 
and devastating and so tragic in my entire life. But, Mr. Speaker, the 
damage and injuries would have been far worse were it not for the 
incredible courage of firefighters from throughout the San Francisco 
Bay area and California, men and women who put their lives at risk to 
protect one of our Nation's greatest national treasures, the Point 
Reyes national seashore and the town of Inverness, CA.
  Special praise goes to the Department of the Interior, the California 
department of forestry and fire protection, and the Marin County fire 
department. These three agencies coordinated an unprecedented fire 
fighting effort the likes of which you have never seen. In all, 2,164 
firefighters representing 40 agencies participated in this massive 
effort.
  In the effort to thank and honor them, I would like to submit a list 
of those agencies for the Record.
  The list referred to follows:

            Agencies That Assisted in the Mount Vision Fire

       National Park Service, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pt. 
     Reyes.
       California Department of Forestry, Santa Rosa.
       Novato Fire District, Novato.
       Dixon County Fire Protection District, Dixon.
       Marin County Fire, San Rafael.
       Vacaville County Fire Protection District, Vacaville.
       Napa County Fire Department, Napa.
       US Forest Service, San Francisco.
       Suisun City Fire Department, Suisun.
       Larkspur Fire Department, Larkspur.
       Redwood Valley-Capella Fire Protection District, Redwood 
     Valley.
       San Mateo County Fire Department, San Mateo.
       Ross Department of Police Services, Ross.
       Oakland Fire Department, Oakland.
       California Highway Patrol, Corte Madera.
       California Department of Corrections, Santa Rosa.
       Tiburon Fire District, Tiburon.
       Corte Madera Fire Department, Corte Madera.
       Salvation Army, San Rafael.
       Kentfield Fire Department, Kentfield.
       Department of Youth Authority, Sacramento.
       San Rafael Fire Department, San Rafael.

  Mr. Speaker, by air and land, these men and women worked around the 
clock with only a few hours' sleep. They slept on the ground in 
disposable paper sleeping bags. Thanks to their tireless efforts, 80 
percent of the national park remains untouched, untouched by the fires, 
and Mr. Speaker, there were no, I repeat no, major injures or loss of 
life.
  Just to give you a hint of their selflessness, one resident whose 
home remains standing amid several others that were burned to the 
ground, returned to his home to find a note in his 

[[Page H 9895]]
kitchen from the Tiburon fire engine company No. 12. The note said that 
the firefighters had fought to save the house from the surrounding 
flames and that they had been successful, but they wanted to thank the 
homeowner because afterwards they had come in and had soda and 
crackers. As the resident said, when he returned home, no amount of 
soda and crackers will ever be enough to repay these firefighters for 
their heroic actions. In fact, he said that he was the one that should 
be thanking the firefighters, not the other way around.
  I assure you, Mr. Speaker, similar stories of firefighters going 
beyond their call of duty to assist victims and protect homes and the 
park can be found throughout West Marin.
  Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate National Fire Prevention Week, let us 
salute our Nation's firefighters. Like the constituent that I told you 
about, we are all forever indebted to these courageous men and women, 
the true heroes of the United States of America.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Weldon] for organizing this special order in 
recognition of Fire Prevention Week.
  I would also like to commend the chairman of the bipartisan Fire 
Caucus, Mr. Boehlert, for his hard work and commitment to the fire 
service. The over 340 Members of this body who are in the Fire Caucus, 
are well served by such an able and effective chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, most Americans recognize that the United States has the 
finest fire protection in the world.
  Clearly, we have made valiant strides in fire prevention and safety 
since the very sobering report, America Burning, in 1973.
  Firefighter deaths in the line of duty, as well as civilian 
fatalities, are on the decline.
  Organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association who 
are sponsoring Fire Prevention Week have been integral in fire 
education and the promotion of safety and prevention.
  The U.S. Fire Administration, located in my home State of Maryland, 
provides the backbone of our Nation's fire safety and protection 
services.
  This administration also trains hundreds of firefighters each year 
and provides the very best in fire data and information.
  Mr. Speaker, although we have seen these dramatic improvements in the 
number of fire-related fatalities in the last 20 years, the United 
States still lags behind many other industrialized nations in fire 
safety.
  Last year, 100 of our very best firefighters were killed in the line 
of duty. Additionally, over 4,000 civilians were killed as a result of 
structural, vehicle, and outdoor fires.
  While we can celebrate our accomplishments in fire prevention and 
safety over the two decades, we must take very seriously the challenge 
that lies ahead.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe this challenge is twofold.
  First, we must recognize the tremendous public service provided by 
America's fire-fighters.
  Today, there are just over one million firefighters operating out of 
more than 30,000 departments nationwide.
  Their dedication and service allow all Americans to rest a little 
easier at night and feel confident that if, in the unfortunate event 
that there is a fire, their lives and property will be protected by an 
able and dedicated fire service.
  These firefighters should be all of our heroes as they work 
exhausting shifts and take on the greatest physical and mental 
challenges.
  I have introduced a bill along with the chairman of the Fire Caucus, 
Mr. Boehlert, which would seek to correct one of the greatest 
inequities in the Federal Government pay system.
  Every day over 10,000 Federal firefighters around the country put 
their lives on the line to protect the lives and property of the 
American people. Under the present pay system, Federal firefighters 
work over 25 percent more hours per week, yet earn nearly 44 percent 
less per hour than the average municipal firefighter.
  Simply put, I have introduced this legislation to correct this pay 
inequity by bringing Federal firefighters under the same pay system as 
all Federal employees. Although the bill will not fully close the gap, 
it will compensate Federal firefighters at a level closer to that of 
municipal firefighters.
  Where we can, we must also continue to ensure that all fire fighters, 
volunteer, municipal, and Federal receive all of the benefits and 
rights that can and should be afforded to them so that we can continue 
to encourage the very best in America to join the firefighter ranks.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout the country, whenever there is an emergency, 
a fire, or other type of disaster, firefighters are the first to 
respond. They don't simply put out fires. They provide moral support 
and are active and responsible members of our communities.
  I rise with great admiration and appreciation for the service and 
dedication of firefighters throughout the United States.
  Second and equally important, she must work toward a day when all 
Americans are educated about fire prevention and specific steps people 
can take to reduce fire hazards in the home and work place. The role of 
the U.S. Fire Administration along with States and local fire officials 
is crucial to this effort.
  To address this issue, I have introduced a bill, H.R. 771, with 
Congressmen Weldon and Boehlert, which seeks to create a grant program, 
administered by the USFA, which would provide moneys to individual 
States and localities for the purposes of fire education and 
prevention.
  Given that each State has different fire and safety issues and 
concerns, this bill will allow the USFA to focus its resources 
appropriately on each of the different needs.
  Mr. Speaker, Let me be clear. I do not believe that the Fire Safety 
and Education Act of 1995 provides the entire answer to our fire 
prevention concerns. There must be a partnership between fire 
departments and organizations and the citizens of each community 
throughout America. What we can do is help to empower the American 
people to learn how to prevent fires from occurring and take greater 
responsibility for their own safety.
  Teamwork is the key to continuing our efforts in reducing fire-
related fatalities and damages.
  This week is an important step in focusing attention on the successes 
of the past 20 years, but also the work that lies ahead. Whether 
through legislation on the Federal or State level. through increased 
training of our firefighters, and through education initiatives on the 
local levels, we must continue to focus on fire protection and safety.
  Fire Prevention Week is a very good opportunity to focus on the fire 
service and these issues and I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
for arranging for this special order.

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