[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 109 (Tuesday, September 14, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEATH OF FIREFIGHTER EVA SCHICKE

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today, it is with a heavy heart that I pay 
tribute to a fallen California firefighter.
  Firefighter Eva Schicke was killed on Sunday, September 12, when her 
crew was overwhelmed by flames after being dropped by helicopter to 
fight a wildfire in the Tuolumne River Canyon of the Stanislaus 
National Forest.
  Eva Schicke was part of an elite 7-person helicopter wildfire crew 
stationed at Columbia Air Attack Base in Columbia, CA. She and the six 
other members of this helicopter crew selflessly risked their lives 
trying to protect our communities and our treasured forests.
  A graduate of California State University at Stanislaus where she 
played basketball and majored in criminal justice, Eva Schicke worked 
part time as a firefighter for more than 4 years. When she died she was 
beginning to pursue a career in nursing--yet another testament to her 
generosity of spirit and her desire to serve the community.
  Not only was Ms. Schicke one of the few female firefighters to serve, 
she is now, tragically, the first ever female firefighter from the 
California Department of Forestry to die in the line of duty.
  I offer my sincere condolences to her family, friends, and 
classmates. I know they must be devastated by the loss of this 
courageous, young woman.
  I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the search and 
rescue team that went back in to recover Ms. Schicke's body.
  I also extend my gratitude and express my admiration for all of our 
firefighters, particularly the six members of the Columbia Helitack 
Team that fought by Ms. Schicke's side and were themselves injured in 
that fire. The people of California honor their work. May God bless 
them for their dedication and service.

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