[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 25 (Friday, February 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING FIRE CAPTAIN RICHARD LAWLER AS PUBLIC SAFETY HERO OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 8, 2019

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor CAL 
FIRE Fire Captain Richard Lawler, whom I have named a Public Safety 
Hero of the Year in Lake County, California.
  Mr. Lawler is from Huntington Beach, California. He began his career 
in public service in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to 
Operation Desert Storm. Mr. Lawler then joined the United States Forest 
Service's firefighting team. He worked on Hot Shot Crews and fire 
engines in southern California until he was assigned to the Mendocino 
National Forest. In 2008 Mr. Lawler joined the California Department of 
Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). He spent three years serving 
at Parlin Fork Camp, three years at Konocti Camp and two years at 
Kelsey Cobb Station. For the last three years he has been assigned to 
Clearlake Oaks Station.
  For over twenty years, Mr. Lawler has been a member of the Northshore 
Fire Protection District. He is a senior member of the Water Rescue and 
SCUBA Dive Team that serves Lake County and is a firefighter and 
paramedic for the district. He is also a member of the Lakeport Fire 
Protection District. Mr. Lawler is also a certified paramedic, rescue 
diver, and Haz-Mat technician.
  Mr. Lawler is committed to public service and dedicated to protecting 
our community from the ever-present threat of fires. During the Tubbs 
Fire in 2017, Mr. Lawler was part of a small group that worked to 
prevent the fire from crossing Calistoga Road, stopping additional 
damage to Sonoma County. He was then reassigned to the Napa County 
portion of the fire. He joined the leadership and they worked to stop 
the fire's advancement towards Lake County. When the Pawnee Fire broke 
out in 2018, Mr. Lawler raced to keep the fire from spreading into 
Colusa County in just a few hours. He was also active in the response 
to the Ranch and River Fires. He was part of the initial attack against 
the fires and still helps property owners fix their damaged fencing.
  Madam Speaker, we thank Mr. Lawler for his dedication. For this 
reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

                          ____________________