[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 127 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 376--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE MEN 
AND WOMEN WHO FOUGHT THE JASPER FIRE IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 
              SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS

  Mr. DASCHLE (for himself and Mr. Johnson) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 376

       Whereas the Jasper Fire started at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, 
     August 24, 2000, near Jasper Cave in the Black Hills National 
     Forest and was contained at 6:00 p.m. on September 8, 2000;
       Whereas two days after it started, the Jasper Fire nearly 
     quadrupled in size in a matter of hours, burned as fast as 
     100 acres per second, and ultimately became the worst forest 
     fire in the history of the Black Hills, consuming 83,508 
     acres;
       Whereas the Jasper Fire threatened private homes in the 
     Black Hills, including the South Dakota communities of 
     Deerfield, Custer, and Hill City, Jewel Cave National 
     Monument, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and forced 
     the evacuation of many residents in northwestern Custer 
     County and southwestern Pennington County;
       Whereas volunteers from 76 community fire departments from 
     across South Dakota made up a substantial part of the 1,160 
     men and women who worked around the clock to contain the 
     Jasper Fire;
       Whereas the Tatanka Hotshot crew, an elite 20-person 
     firefighting team based in the Black Hills, came from 
     fighting fires in western Wyoming to help fight the Jasper 
     Fire;
       Whereas while the Tatanka Hotshot crew has fought several 
     fires throughout the country, the Jasper Fire was the first 
     major fire they fought in their home forest;
       Whereas the outpouring of support for the firefighters by 
     local residents and communities, such as Hill City and 
     Custer, helped boost firefighter morale; and
       Whereas, in spite of the rugged terrain and the intense 
     speed and size of the fire, the Jasper Fire was contained 
     successfully with only one home lost and with no injuries to 
     any firefighters or local citizens: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Jasper Fire was the largest forest fire in the 
     history of the Black Hills National Forest, consuming 83,508 
     acres;
       (2) the volunteer firefighters from across South Dakota 
     played a crucial role in combating the Jasper Fire and 
     preventing it from destroying hundreds of homes;
       (3) the Tatanka Hotshot crew was instrumental in providing 
     the effort, expertise and training necessary to establish a 
     fire line around the Jasper Fire; and
       (4) the men and women who fought the Jasper Fire are 
     commended for their bravery, their extraordinary efforts to 
     contain the fire, and their commitment to protect lives, 
     property, and the surrounding communities.

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