[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 8, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESCOTT AREA WILDLAND URBAN 
                          INTERFACE COMMISSION

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                           HON. PAUL A. GOSAR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2015

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the silver 
anniversary and 25 years of dedicated service of the Prescott Area 
Wildland Urban Interface Commission (PAWUIC).
   In 1989, Ed Hollenshead and Coy Jemmett of the Prescott National 
along with Prescott Fire Department's Ron Prince and Darrell Willis 
originally conceived the idea of an organization where community 
leaders were involved in combating issues in the Wildland Urban 
Interface (WUI). These conversations evolved into a task force known as 
the Interagency Fire and Emergency Management Group. A year later, The 
Prescott Area Wildland Urban Interface Commission was officially formed 
on September 7, 1990 when a memorandum of understanding was signed by 
PAWUIC, the City of Prescott, Yavapai County, Central Yavapai Fire 
District, Arizona State Land Deptarment and the Prescott National 
Forest.
   In 2001, Prescott was selected as one of seven communities in the 
United States to participate in the National Fire Protection 
Association's Firewise Communities program. This distinction resulted 
from Prescott having a strong, citizen-led commission on WUI issues.
   Today, there are approximately 30 Firewise certified communities in 
and around Prescott protecting more than 12,000 properties and 
representing more than half of all Firewise communities in the State of 
Arizona.
   I am proud to honor the Prescott Area Wildland Urban Interface 
Commission for their valuable contributions towards preventing 
dangerous wildfires and combating other wildland urban interface 
issues. At a time in our nation's history when catastrophic wildfires 
are devastating the West and have burned nearly 9 million acres this 
year alone, we must embrace commonsense and worthwhile efforts that 
encourage active forest management. As a native Arizonan, I am 
personally thankful for the hard work and dedication that this 
commission has set forth by empowering so many citizen volunteers.

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