[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING THE FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALIFORNIA AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED 
  STATES FOR THEIR COURAGEOUS ACTIONS AND SACRIFICES IN FIGHTING THE 
                          CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 2008

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the brave 
firefighters from across California and around the country who have 
courageously risked their lives to halt the spread of wildfires that 
continue to devastate California. The dedication and determination of 
our Nation's first responders and firefighters have helped dramatically 
contain the nearly 1,800 wildfires that have burned over 829,000 acres, 
or 1,300 square miles, across California.
  These fires have been the most intense and widespread in California's 
history, and thousands of brave men and women have honored the call to 
protect our state from these fires. More than 150 firefighters from 
Sonoma County, in my Congressional District have responded to the 
fires, and firefighters from Santa Rosa served more than 22 days each, 
totaling 4,000 hours of their time in June. More than 80 Marin 
firefighters and other support personnel have been dispatched to fight 
fires throughout Northern California. In addition to the unrivaled 
contributions of the California's firefighters, Governor Arnold 
Schwarzenegger called up 2,400 National Guard troops join the fire 
crews. Furthermore, firefighters from 41 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, 
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have all offered their support, 
resources, and manpower during this crisis.
  The bravery of these committed first responders and the tremendous 
sacrifices they made to help fight California's fires have not gone 
unnoticed. Our firefighters deserve the highest commendation for 
putting themselves in the line of danger. That's why I am proud to 
support H. Res. 1322, a resolution honoring the firefighters from 
California and throughout the United States for their heroism and 
sacrifices in fighting the California wildfires. These brave men and 
women deserve no less.

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