[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 26, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 HONORING THE BRAVE FIREFIGHTERS WHO SAVED MAGNOLIA AND ALL THOSE WHO 
                             SUPPORTED THEM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2011

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave men 
and women who answered the call when wildfires roared. Having survived 
Hurricanes Rita and Ike, my district and the people of Southeast Texas 
know and understand the devastation Hurricanes bring. This September we 
dealt with a very different kind of disaster in the form of massive 
wildfires.
  Luckily for us, our September miracle was granted Labor Day weekend 
as fire crews from across Texas and in fact the entire country came to 
Magnolia to battle a three county blaze that threatened to consume well 
over ten-thousand homes and businesses in Magnolia as well as thousands 
more in neighboring Grimes and Waller Counties.
  Having been out on the line with them to see for myself how the fire 
lines came right up to families' back porches--yet they saved home 
after home--it is impossible for me not to be in awe of these heroes. 
Their skill and dedication saved the town of Magnolia and I can't wait 
to join them this Saturday in Unity Park to honor their success and 
hard work.
  Magnolia Volunteer Fire Chief Gary Vincent united over a hundred 
different fire fighting agencies by his side and with the help of our 
dedicated Sheriff Tommy Gage, his deputies, our constables, our police 
departments, our Fire Marshall Jimmy Williams, school districts, the 
Texas Forest Service and many others stepped up. California's 
Interagency Incident Management Team not only took our thanks back to 
the Golden State, they take back the model for how communities and 
first responders unite with charities from the United Way, Red Cross, 
local food banks, churches, YMCAs and Chambers of Commerce to provide a 
response that firefighters across this nation will be talking about for 
years to come.
  If a firefighter was thirsty, three volunteers would rush over with 
water and there were likely two more behind carrying hot meals just in 
case that firefighter might be hungry as well. All the firefighters who 
came in from across the country could talk about was how well they were 
treated in Texas, God's country.
  Today, it's an honor for me to be here on the House floor to honor my 
heroes who made it possible for thousands of families to have homes to 
go home to. This Saturday, our community will honor those who held the 
line by celebrating their service and by heeding their warnings that 
the fire danger remains extraordinarily high as the drought drags on.

                          ____________________