[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN HONOR OF SACRAMENTO'S PRESTIGIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to the men and women of 
Sacramento Fire Department's Swiftwater Rescue Team and the Sacramento 
Urban Search and Rescue Team for their tireless and heroic actions in 
response to Hurricane Katrina. Between the Sacramento Fire Department 
and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, sixty-one senior level 
managers, firefighters and rescuers went to the devastated areas in New 
Orleans and across the Gulf Coast to help those most in need. I ask all 
my colleagues to join me in honoring and thanking some of our nation's 
finest first responders.
  At the behest of FEMA, senior leaders from both departments were 
called on to manage the rescue efforts that grew to include hundreds of 
personnel from across the country. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire 
District Chief Rick Martinez led an Incident Support Team in Gulfport, 
Mississippi with Assistant Chief Mike Johnson, Dave Stoddard, Dave 
Odgers and Hank Linscott. Coordinating rescue efforts in New Orleans 
from this Incident Support Team was Assistant Chief Ed Vasques, Ford 
Davies and Larry Hopkins from the Sacramento Fire Department, along 
with Ron Pierce and Hernando Carson from the Sacramento Metropolitan 
Fire District.
  Sacramento's Swiftwater Rescue Team quickly responded to the tragedy 
of Hurricane Katrina by immediately flying to New Orleans to assist in 
the rescue efforts. Trained on the often unpredictable currents of the 
Sacramento and American Rivers, they quickly adapted to the situation 
in New Orleans. This team led by Sacramento Fire Department Assistant 
Chief Jay Bowdler and Battalion Chief Kristi Seargeant included Chris 
Costamagna, Craig Wiedenhoeft, Michael Bartley, Charley Sprague, Jeff 
Cooke, Niko King, Brian Morr, Chris Swarbrick, Martin Cordeiro, Sage 
Peart, Dave Baldwin and Greg Powell.
  Once on site, the team worked long days in the flooded city to rescue 
hundreds of people stuck on rooftops, trapped in their attics and 
stranded in the streets. Working in challenging and unfriendly 
conditions--at risk to their own health and safety--these dedicated 
individuals brought hope and medical care to those most in need.
  Members of Sacramento's well praised and highly trained Urban Search 
and Rescue Team also spent over two weeks working in many severely 
damaged communities along the Gulf Coast--searching for survivors 
trapped in their homes and in other buildings where they had sought 
shelter from the storm. Many on this team had previously responded to 
crises in Oklahoma City and at the World Trade Center following the 
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Leading this team was Dave 
Whitt, a Battalion Commander with the Sacramento Fire Department.
  Serving on the Urban Search and Rescue Team from the Sacramento 
Metropolitan Fire District were Dave Brown, Jeff Metzinger, Kyle 
Johnson, Mark Wells, Mike McGuirk, Ron Von Allworden, Randy Gross, Mike 
Daw, Mike Hazlett, Jim Johnson, Chris Anaya, Bob Gorman, Randy Wootton, 
Tyler Wagaman, Mike Wiggington, Bob Santee and Phil Allen.
  Also on this team from the Sacramento Fire Department were Erik 
Saari, Rick Lee, Teresa Ortenberger, Lisa Stumpf, Doug Ross, Ernie 
Partridge, Randy Browning, Rodney Tateishi, Micki Anacleto, Scott 
Williams, Ken Murray, Joe Jackson and Ed Crum. They were joined by Dr. 
Dennis Gardner, Blake Rothfuss and Mike Kaszpurenko who served as 
medical and structural support staff. Teresa Ortenberger handled the 
cadaver dog.
  Additionally, Darren Taylor, Scott McKenney and Larry Savage of the 
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District headed-up an Incident Logistic 
Management Team at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
  Each of these men and women left their families and loved ones in 
Sacramento; placing their lives on the line to come to the aid of their 
fellow citizens from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. And when 
Hurricane Rita hit land mere weeks later, many again answered the call 
for assistance. For their efforts, we owe them our thanks. I am truly 
honored to represent these renowned individuals and the fire 
departments they work for in Congress. Once again, I thank the women 
and men of the Sacramento Fire Department's Swiftwater Rescue Team and 
the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District's Urban Search and Rescue 
Team for their unwavering dedication and service to our country during 
this tragedy.

                          ____________________