[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20978]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     HONORING STEPHEN JOSEPH MASTO, SANTA BARBARA CITY FIREFIGHTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 1999

  Mr. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the 
service and pay tribute to Santa Barbara City Firefighter, Stephen 
Joseph Masto who died in late August while helping battle a wildlife in 
Los Padres National Forest.
  At the young age of 28, Stephen had already devoted his career to 
public safety. Before serving in the Santa Barbara City Fire 
Department, he served as an apprentice firefighter in the Brea fire 
Department in Orange County, as a reserve officer at fire departments 
in Upland in San Bernardino County, and Los Alamitos in Los Angeles 
County, and as a volunteer disaster worker in Long Beach, CA. Clearly, 
Stephen was committed to serving the common good.
  In remembering Stephen, we can never repay him for his dedication, 
hard work, or ultimate sacrifice. Rather, we must honor him by being 
especially mindful of the brave men and women firefighters he left 
behind to carry on the selfless work of protecting the lives and safety 
of their neighbors in times of need. Like Stephen, these are true 
heroes in every sense of the word.
  I know that I speak for the entire community when I extend my most 
heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones who will miss 
Stephen terribly. We only hope that their warm memories of this heroic 
man will sustain them in this moment of grief.

                          ____________________