[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 70 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING A FALLEN HERO, FIREFIGHTER ANTHONY (TONY) ALLAN CZAK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 21, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, in July of 1976 a 900 acre wild fire ripped 
through the Battlement Creek area of Western Colorado. During the 
blaze, four brave forest service firefighters from different parts of 
the country were killed while trying to knock out one of the deadliest 
forest fires in recent memory. On July 21st of 2001, these four men 
will be honored at the opening of a memorial to be dedicated in their 
memory. I ask that Congress take a moment to honor these four men for 
giving their lives in the line of duty.
  The four-day blaze which claimed the lives of three hotshot 
firefighters and one pilot was started by lightning, and took nearly 
300 fire fighters to douse the blaze. Twenty-five year old Anthony 
(Tony) Allan Czak was in his fourth year working on the Mormon Lake 
hotshot crew from Coconino National Forest in Arizona and was serving 
as the crew boss for the 76 season when he was killed by a ``fast 
moving finger of fire''.
  Tony was born in Buffalo, New York and later moved to Phoenix, 
Arizona with his wife Janice to attend the University of Arizona. On 
the Morning of July 17, 1976, the crew was assigned to build a section 
of fire line to protect Federal lands belonging to the BLM. After they 
were finished, Tony sent the line crew out of the fire and into a 
safety zone. He then went back into the burn area to help the remaining 
three members with the burnout operations. Without warning, the fire 
took off and overran Tony and two other crewmembers. The fourth member 
of the crew survived.
  Mr. Speaker, four men gave their lives protecting Federal land during 
the Battlement Creek fire in July of 1976. Anthony Czak and his crew 
will be honored by the citizens of the Battlement Creek area for their 
courage and bravery. I would ask that Congress honor them and thank 
them for their work.
  Anthony's family should be proud of what he accomplished in his life 
and what he did for the people of Battlement Creek.

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