[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 130 (Thursday, November 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ESPERANZA INCIDENT FIRE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN OCTOBER 2006

  The resolution (S. Res. 614) honoring the firefighters and other 
public servants who responded to the devastating Esperanza incident 
fire in southern California in October 2006 was considered and agreed 
to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 614), with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 614

       Whereas, in late October 2006, the mountain communities 
     west of Palm Springs, California were struck by a vast 
     wildfire, which came to be known as the Esperanza Incident 
     and which authorities believe was started by an arsonist;
       Whereas the Esperanza Incident fire tragically claimed 
     lives, homes and other buildings, and more than 40,000 acres 
     of terrain;
       Whereas nearly 3,000 firefighters from dozens of fire crews 
     courageously battled the fast-spreading blaze, which was 
     fanned by Santa Ana wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour;
       Whereas 4 firefighters--Mark Loutzenhiser, Jess McLean, 
     Jason McKay, and Daniel Hoover-Najera--made the ultimate 
     sacrifice by giving their lives when flames overtook them as 
     they tried to protect a home;
       Whereas an additional firefighter, Pablo Cerda, joined them 
     in that sacrifice when he too lost his life, after fighting 
     to survive for 6 days in a hospital before succumbing to 
     burns he had received fighting alongside his fallen 
     colleagues;
       Whereas firefighters honored the spirit of their fallen 
     colleagues by completing the job they started and controlling 
     the blaze, even while recognizing considerable danger to 
     their own well-being;
       Whereas skilled and courageous aircraft personnel and 
     additional emergency personnel, including law enforcement and 
     medical personnel, also responded to the threat posed by the 
     fire; and
       Whereas law enforcement personnel are aggressively pursuing 
     the conviction of the arsonist, and generous Californians 
     have offered additional funds, on top of those offered by the 
     Riverside County Board of Supervisors, to help bring the 
     arsonist to justice: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and honors--
       (A) all of the firefighters who responded to the 
     devastating Esperanza Incident fire in southern California in 
     October 2006; and
       (B) all others, including emergency, law enforcement, and 
     medical personnel and aircraft crews, who contributed to 
     controlling the fire, keeping Californians safe, and finding 
     and arresting the suspected arsonist; and
       (2) commends the firefighters and other personnel who 
     responded to the fire for dedicated service to the people of 
     California.

                          ____________________