[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 55 (Thursday, April 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E511-E512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF DEPUTY U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATOR GLENN GAINES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 16, 2015

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to 
inform my colleagues of the passing of Deputy U.S. Fire

[[Page E512]]

Administrator Glenn Gaines, a consummate fire professional and friend 
whose legacy can be seen today in firehouses across our nation.
   I first came to know Glenn Gaines during his tenure as fire chief in 
Fairfax County, Va., where I served on the local Board of Supervisors. 
He was a strong leader, who led with character and a gentle touch. He 
instilled a sense of pride and camaraderie in his firefighters and 
paramedics that reflected his own love and admiration for the fire 
service and those who bravely answer the call day in and day out.
   Chief Gaines began his illustrious career as a volunteer firefighter 
with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. His passion for the 
fire service was evident in his work, and he quickly rose through the 
ranks of leadership, serving as Fire Marshal, Chief Training Officer, 
and Chief of Operations. He played a key role in the formation of 
Fairfax County's elite Urban Search and Rescue Team, which, in 
partnership with FEMA and USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster 
Assistance, has provided lifesaving support to communities here at home 
and across the globe following natural disasters. He capped his 35-
years in Fairfax by serving seven years as Fire Chief, mentoring a 
generation of Fairfax firefighters and paramedics, who helped mold the 
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department into one of the best in the 
nation.
   He went on to work for FEMA, where he helped initiate the Assistance 
to Firefighters Grant Program for the Department of Homeland Security. 
He was instrumental in the creation of the Agency's primary firefighter 
grant programs, particularly the Staffing for Adequate Fire and 
Emergency Response (or SAFER) Grant Program, which is utilized by 
career and volunteer fire departments across the country to increase 
staffing to meet community needs.
   It was more than a commitment to the job for Chief Gaines. He was 
committed to the people who served alongside him and those that would 
follow in their footsteps. He held a degree in Fire Administration and 
authored a fire service text book and contributed to several other 
publications that are still considered mandatory reading for recruits. 
He was an educator who shared his knowledge and expertise widely. He 
served on the faculty of the National Fire Academy and oversaw training 
programs at the National Emergency Training Center.
   As one publication put it, he was a firefighter's firefighter. 
Whether it was in Fairfax or on the national stage, Chief Gaines 
garnered respect and promoted positive change. He was recognized by his 
peers with the International Association of Fire Chiefs Metropolitan 
Fire Chiefs President's Award of Distinction, and he later was honored 
with the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Lifetime Achievement Award. He also 
received the International Association of Fire Chiefs President's Award 
for Meritorious Service to the Fire Service.
   His colleagues will also recall his outgoing, gregarious nature, 
particularly his competitive streak when it came to participating in 
the World Police and Fire Games. He was a gold medal winner in the 
games, competing in power lifting, running, and other sports. In fact, 
he was actively preparing to be the Sports Coordinator for Softball at 
this summer's Games, which will be held in Fairfax County.
   Chief Gaines was not the retiring type, and, at the age of 72, his 
commitment to the fire service community was unparalleled. He died 
unexpectedly at his home in Leesburg, Va., last Sunday, April 12. He is 
survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda, their daughter Christy Stuart, 
her husband, Sean, and their twin children, Heather and Evan.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our 
sincere condolences to the family and friends of Chief Gaines. His 
life's work will always be remembered in his native Fairfax and across 
the nation's fire service, and his legacy of character and service will 
endure through the generations of firefighters he helped prepare to 
answer the call.

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