[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20004]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MANN GULCH FIRE

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to remember a 
significant, but often overlooked historical event in our nation's 
past-Montana's Mann Gulch Fire which occurred 50 years ago today. This 
event continues to capture the nation's attention because thirteen 
brave, young men died fighting this fire. LIFE Magazine ran a big story 
shortly after this fire. In 1952, Hollywood made a movie about this 
unfortunate disaster called ``Red Skies of Montana.'' And Norman 
Maclean, who wrote the famous book ``A River Runs Through It'', wrote a 
haunting bestseller entitled ``Young Men and Fire'' in 1992. But even 
more remarkable, this single event marked a turning point in the way 
the federal government fights wildland fires.
  It was a hot summer day in August 1949, not unlike what we have 
recently experienced, when a Forest Service Fire Guard, James Harrison, 
reported a small fire in a little, funnel-shaped gulch along the 
Missouri River. The temperature was 97 degrees with a light wind from 
the north and east. The fire was located 20 miles north of Helena, 
Montana in a roadless area called the Gates of the Mountain. 
Parachuting 15 smokejumpers was decided to be the best approach to 
reach this remote area quickly to control this relatively ordinary 
fire.
  Once on the ground, the smokejumpers joined the Forest Service Fire 
Guard to fight the fire. As they moved down the gulch toward the 
Missouri River, the wind quickly shifted from the south, funneling a 
strong wind up the gulch. As they got near the Missouri River, a wall 
of fire blocked their access to the river. The fire was getting hotter 
and swiftly moving up the gulch. Retreating back was their only 
solution, however, it was a hard hike back up the steep rocky slope of 
the gulch. As the firefighters retreated, dropping their equipment, a 
30 foot wall of fire raced toward them and eventually overcame them.
  In the end, only three firefighters survived--Wagner ``Wag'' Dodge, 
Walter Rumsey, and Robert Sallee. Thirteen firefighters died as a 
testament to the power of a fire ``blow up'' which had raced down and 
back up the slopes of Mann Gulch faster than men could travel. Mr. 
President, I would like to take a moment to name those thirteen brave 
young men who lost their lives that day--Robert Bennett, Eldon 
Diettert, James Harrison, William Hellman, Philip McVey, David Navon, 
Leonard Piper, Stanley Reba, Marvin Sherman, Joseph Sylvia, Henry Thol, 
Jr., Newton Thompson, and Silas Thompson.
  This tragic loss 50 years ago, however, should not be remembered only 
in a somber way. We should remember the many positive changes that have 
come from this disaster. After investigating the Mann Gulch Fire, the 
federal government made a stronger investment in fighting wildland 
fires. For example, in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower personally 
opened the Aerial Fire Depot in Missoula, Montana. Understanding how 
wildland fires behave and how to best fight them also increased with 
the opening of research laboratories in Missoula, Montana and Macon, 
Georgia. Development of new techniques, such as ``safety zones'' and 
new technologies, such as reflective ``fire shelters,'' were made to 
increase the protection of fire fighters in the midst of a fire. These 
changes were made in large measure due to the sacrifice these thirteen 
brave men made on August 5, 1949.
  There is one last step that needs to be taken. Congress needs to 
address some of the problems in maintaining the high quality of our 
nation's fire fighting crews. Yesterday I introduced legislation which 
will do that. I trust my colleagues will join with me in supporting 
this bill to ensure its passage. What could be a more fitting tribute 
to all the brave men and women who have lost their lives fighting 
wildland fires than to enact legislation this year to strengthen the 
quality of our nation's firefighting crews.
  Mr. President, I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring these 
brave men for their dedication, sacrifice, and contributions to protect 
America from wildland fires. To these men who revered honor and honored 
duty, we salute them.

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