[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 122 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H6561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF BRADEN VARNEY

  (Mr. McCLINTOCK asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a hero of the Sierra and 
mourn his tragic loss.
  Braden Varney, age 36, gave his life Saturday night fighting the 
Ferguson Fire, which continues to ravage the forests near Yosemite 
Valley and threaten the communities of Mariposa County.
  A second-generation bulldozer operator with CAL FIRE, he was all 
alone that night, cutting firebreaks to stop this monster fire, when 
his dozer overturned in treacherous terrain. He was well-known to the 
people of Mariposa, being involved in many civic activities. Braden 
leaves behind a grieving widow, Jessica, and two small children, 
Malhea, age five, and Nolan, just 3 years old.
  Our firefighters face mortal peril when they leave the safety and 
comfort of their homes and families to put themselves in harm's way. 
They literally place their lives between our communities and the fires 
that can consume them. They know the danger better than anyone. Yet, 
they do what they do anyway.
  Mr. Speaker, to the Varney family, I can only express our profound 
respect, admiration, gratitude, and sympathy on behalf of all of those 
who Braden died to protect

                          ____________________