[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PAYING TRIBUTE TO ROBERT BROWNING JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to the life and legacy of Robert Browning Jr. Rob bravely 
battled the Storm King Mountain Fire outside the town of Glenwood 
Springs, Colorado in 1994, but succumbed to the blaze along with 
thirteen fellow firefighters while working to protect the City. I 
personally served as a firefighter and understand the risks they face 
each and every day. Witnessing the awful inferno that fateful July day, 
I know Rob and his comrades battled the fire with the utmost courage 
and valor. With the tenth anniversary of the Storm King Fire 
approaching, I believe it appropriate to recognize the sacrifice Rob 
and the Storm King Firefighters made on behalf of a grateful community, 
state and nation.
  Born and raised in North Carolina, Rob attended McDowell High School 
and received a degree in forest management from Haywood Technical 
College. In 1988, he began working for the U.S. Forest Service in 
Asheville, North Carolina, and in 1992 he became a member of the Region 
8 Hotshot Crew, an elite group of firefighters who specialize in 
wildland fire suppression. In 1993 he transferred to the Savannah River 
Forest Station where he was an engine operator and firefighter. At the 
time of the Storm King Mountain Fire, Rob was serving a four-month 
detail on a Grand Junction helitack crew, a specialized group of 
firefighters who are often the first to respond to a wildland fire. He 
was a dedicated member of the Forest Service, and received a great deal 
of satisfaction from helping others.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise before this body of Congress and 
this nation to pay tribute to the life and memory of Firefighter Robert 
Browning Jr. Rob personified the Hotshots credo of Safety, Teamwork, 
and Professionalism; putting himself in harm's way for unfamiliar 
people and places. He made the ultimate sacrifice doing what he loved, 
and I, along with the Glenwood Springs community and the State of 
Colorado are eternally grateful to this brave young man.

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