[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 100 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF THOSE FIGHTING THE WALDO CANYON FIRE

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                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 29, 2012

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the heroic men and 
women who are battling the Waldo Canyon Fire. 1,200 firefighters from 
all over Colorado's 5th District and the nation have been fighting this 
fire around the clock since Saturday. They have been assisted by 
numerous law enforcement agencies who have managed an orderly and 
injury-free evacuation of 32,500 citizens.
  The cooperation between all levels and branches of government has 
been seamless, coordinated, cooperative, and effective. One example is 
the use of military assets, such as C-130 MAFFS firefighting aircraft. 
These planes have dropped over 73,000 gallons of slurry on this fire in 
coordination with the highly skilled firefighting teams on the ground. 
Additionally, Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, and Cheyenne 
Mountain Air Force Station have contributed firefighters, support 
personnel, and air and ground equipment to assist in fighting and 
containing the fire along Highway 24 and on the Air Force Academy 
grounds.
  The community response has been equally impressive. Shelters, food 
banks, and other charitable organizations have been overwhelmed by the 
generous donations of food and manpower. The Care and Share Food Bank 
has received hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and the Red Cross 
is doing extraordinary work at the shelters they are running throughout 
the District. Many homes have been lost and much work remains, but I 
know that we have the people and the resources we need to win this 
fight.

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