[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 195 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10034-H10035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THANKING FIRST RESPONDERS TO THE CRANSTON FIRE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Ruiz) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the communities 
affected by the Cranston fire, one of the largest wildfires my 
congressional district and eastern Riverside County has ever seen.
  While the Cranston fire was contained in August, many of my 
constituents are continuing to piece their lives back together, and 
anytime severe rain is forecasted, they once again go into high alert 
for mudslides from the burn scar.
  The Cranston fire started on July 25, 2018, and within a matter of a 
few hours residents of Idyllwild and the mountain communities were 
immediately forced to evacuate from their homes. Without hesitation, 
first responders from the Idyllwild Fire Department, the Idyllwild 
Volunteer Fire Company, CAL FIRE, the California Highway Patrol, the 
U.S. Forest Service, and countless others from all over the Nation 
sprang into action.
  Thanks to their efforts, no lives were lost and the fire was fully 
contained by August 10, having burned more than

[[Page H10035]]

13,000 acres. Months later, I am left with the image of police officers 
walking through smoldering neighborhoods with megaphones, making sure 
no one was left behind.
  Today, Idyllwild continues to embody that spirit of community and 
togetherness. They are rebuilding homes, clearing debris, and preparing 
for the next wildfire that threatens our communities. Friends and 
neighbors continue to support one another, and I continue to be 
inspired by their compassion and determination.
  Throughout this rebuilding, our communities have expressed something 
profound: gratitude. Rarely have I seen such an outpouring of support 
for our first responders.
  I have seen fences papered with handwritten signs thanking the 
firefighters and countless tributes to their courage and sacrifice at 
local festivals and benefits.
  The affected communities could not have made it this far without the 
support of religious groups, nonprofits, local businesses, and generous 
neighbors. During the fire, volunteers with the American Red Cross and 
the FIND Food Bank delivered food to evacuation centers. So did local 
restaurants, including Idyllwild Bake Shop & Brew, Cafe Aroma, Coyote 
Red's, the Mile High Cafe, and many others.
  The Ace Hotel, V Palm Springs Hotel, and Grand Idyllwild Lodge were 
just a few of the businesses that generously opened their doors to 
displaced residents.
  That generosity extended to our four-legged friends, too. I visited 
the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where staff provided shelter for 
more than 160 local pets.
  Their legacy of compassion lives on through community organizations 
like Young Idyllwild, who hosted a music festival and benefit to raise 
money for neighbors still struggling to piece their lives together.
  I was particularly moved by the generosity of local musician Ernesto 
Ale and his family, who lost their home in the fire. In the midst of 
this hardship, Ernesto found the strength to perform, bringing music to 
his community and raising money for neighbors who, like him, lost so 
much in the fire.
  Ernesto is proof of the kindness and strength exhibited by every 
neighbor, firefighter, police officer, and business owner who pitched 
in after the Cranston fire.
  Government should follow the example of communities it serves, 
pulling together in times of crisis and lending a hand to those in 
need.

                          ____________________