[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 20, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7971-H7972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE FAIRVIEW 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 Fairview Fire and thank the first responders who 
heroically battled the flames.
  The Fairview fire started on September 5, and within a matter of 
hours

[[Page H7972]]

residents of Hemet were forced to evacuate their homes.
  Since then, the fire has burned over 28,300 acres, caused two deaths, 
and destroyed at least 36 homes or commercial structures--proving to be 
one of the largest and most destructive fires our local communities 
have ever seen.
  To the families who have lost a loved one, our neighbors who have had 
to leave behind their homes, and the students who had to miss school, 
know that my heart is with you, and I stand ready to support you in any 
way that I can.
  In the last 15 days we have faced much devastation. We have 
experienced uncertainty, grief, and fear. We have seen the havoc 
wildfires can wreak on our families, environment, and livelihoods. We 
have also been moved by the resiliency of our communities.
  Through it all, I have been touched by the kindness and strength 
exhibited by every neighbor, firefighter, law enforcement officer, and 
volunteer who has pitched in to help keep us safe.
  To our first responders from: Hemet Fire Department; CAL FIRE 
Riverside; CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6; Riverside County 
Sheriff's Department; Cahuilla Fire; U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of 
Land Management; Idyllwild Fire Department; and the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, thank you for your immense heroism.
  It is because of each and every one of you--the men and women 
fighting the fire who have put your lives on the line--that the 
Fairview fire is now almost completely contained. There were 856 
responders and 22 crews from these departments who stepped up without 
hesitation.
  For their responsiveness and work to keep local families informed 
throughout the Fairview fire, I especially want to acknowledge the 
Fairview Fire Unified Command: Hemet Fire Department Chief Eddie Sell; 
CAL FIRE Chief Josh Jansen; Riverside County Sheriff's Department 
Lieutenant John Shulda; and the U.S. Forest Service Chief Jim Snow.
  I also want to thank: CAL FIRE Incident Commander Deputy Chief Jeff 
Veik; CAL FIRE Incident Command Team 6 Staff Chief Andy Turner and 
Deputy Chief Dave Scheurich; Riverside County Fire Department Chief Dan 
Olson; Idyllwild Fire Department Chief Mark LaMont, and Cahuilla Fire 
Chief Randy Sandoval.
  At the fire's highest point, nearly 38,000 individuals were under 
threat and forced to evacuate. I am incredibly grateful to them for 
their leadership, as well as every volunteer who pitched in at 
evacuation cites from Hemet to Temecula.
  To everyone with the Riverside County Emergency Management 
Department, Riverside Department of Animal Services, and the American 
Red Cross who has contributed to evacuation and prevention efforts, 
thank you for all that you have done.
  Your actions have helped families know when it was time to evacuate 
and helped our most at risk find shelter. In this disaster, there have 
been countless heroes, many who will go unnamed--the neighbor who 
texted their friend to make sure they saw the evacuation alert, the 
mother who pitched in that extra $10 to a local evacuation center, and 
the many non-profits, volunteers, and local leaders who did whatever 
they could to help without seeking honor or recognition. The list goes 
on and on.
  As a community, we can never forget the heroes who stepped up 
throughout the fire--big or small. As a Nation, I encourage each of us 
to follow the example set by the people of Hemet to come together in a 
time of crisis and to always lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need.

                          ____________________