[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S10431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 286--RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF FIREFIGHTERS 
   TO CONTAIN NUMEROUS WILDFIRES THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN UNITED STATES

  Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Kyl, 
Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Craig, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Bennett, Mr. 
Stevens, Mr. Tester, and Mr. Reid) submitted the following resolution; 
which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 286

       Whereas the annual peak of the Western wildfire season 
     occurs during July and August;
       Whereas the 2007 Western wildfire season has been 
     characterized by continued drought, record-setting 
     temperatures, extreme fuel conditions, and widespread dry 
     lightning storms;
       Whereas firefighters have had to contend with extreme fire 
     behavior and rapid rates of fire spread;
       Whereas, as of July 23, 2007, more than 55,000 wildfires 
     have burned more than 4,000,000 acres of land, which is more 
     than 8,000 fires and 1,000,000 acres higher than the average 
     reported fire rate over the last 10 years;
       Whereas, from July 6 through July 8, 2007, more than 1,200 
     fires were ignited in the Western United States, most of 
     which were caused by dry lightning storms that swept across 
     California, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah;
       Whereas, as of July 23, 2007--
       (1) the State of Idaho has reported more than 760 fires 
     that have burned more than 800,000 acres;
       (2) the State of Utah has reported more than 670 fires that 
     have burned more than 660,000 acres;
       (3) the State of Nevada has reported more than 560 fires 
     that have burned more than 510,000 acres;
       (4) the State of Oregon has reported more than 1,200 fires 
     that have burned nearly 212,000 acres;
       (5) the State of California has reported more than 4,600 
     fires that have burned more than 117,000 acres;
       (6) the State of Arizona has reported more than 1,600 fires 
     that have burned more than 88,000 acres;
       (7) the State of Washington has reported more than 680 
     fires that have burned more than 64,000 acres;
       (8) the State of New Mexico has reported more than 870 
     fires that have burned nearly 35,000 acres;
       (9) the State of Montana has reported more than 960 fires 
     that have burned more than 19,000 acres;
       (10) the State of Wyoming has reported more than 200 fires 
     that have burned more than 18,000 acres; and
       (11) the State of Colorado has reported more than 740 fires 
     that have burned more than 7,400 acres;
       Whereas, at any given time during the Western wildfire 
     season, as many as 14,000 firefighters are assigned to large, 
     uncontained fires throughout the Western United States; and
       Whereas, despite tremendously volatile weather and terrain 
     conditions, Federal, State, and local firefighting units have 
     contained between 95 and 98 percent of all wildfires during 
     initial attack: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the heroic efforts of firefighters to 
     contain wildfires and protect lives, homes, and rural 
     economies throughout the Western United States; and
       (2) encourages the people and government officials of the 
     United States to express their appreciation to the brave men 
     and women serving in the firefighting services.

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