[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21745-21746]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF FIREFIGHTERS

  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 286, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 286) recognizing the heroic efforts 
     of firefighters to contain numerous wildfires throughout the 
     Western United States.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor of the thousands of 
firefighters who, in recent weeks, have literally put themselves in the 
line of fire to protect our communities and rural economies from 
countless wildfires throughout the western United States.
  For the second year in a row, western States have been plagued by 
continuous wildfires that far exceed those of average years. While July 
and August are typically considered the peak months for western 
wildfires, this year's fire season has been exacerbated by continued 
drought, record-high temperatures, widespread dry lightning storms, and 
high winds. As of July 23, more than 55,000 wildfires had been reported 
this year, burning over 4 million acres. That represents an increase of 
more than 8,000 fires and 1 million acres over the 10-year average.
  My home State of Utah alone has reported nearly 700 separate 
wildfires that have burned nearly 700,000 acres. This includes the fire 
at the Milford Flats Complex, which burned more than 360,000 acres, 
easily making it Utah's largest wildfire on record and one of the 
largest of this year's fire season. Idaho is the only State that has 
been hit harder than Utah this fire season, reporting more than 700 
fires that have burned more than 800,000 acres.
  Utah and Idaho have not been alone in this recent spike of wildfire 
activity. The Milford Flats fire was ignited during a 3-day period that 
lasted from July 6th through July 8th, at time period in which more 
than 1,200 wildfires were ignited in the West as dry lighting storms 
swept across California, Nevada, Utah, and Southern Idaho. Despite 
these drastic conditions, Federal, State and local fire crews have been 
relentless in their efforts to control these wildfires, literally 
putting themselves between these infernos and our homes, our, 
communities, and our resources.
  I also want to express my heartfelt sympathies towards the hundreds 
of communities and thousands of families affected by this year's fires. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they begin the difficult task 
of cleaning up and returning their lives to normal.
  At any given time, as many as 15,000 fire personnel are assigned to 
large, uncontained wildfires throughout the West. This year, and every 
year, these brave men and women overcome extremely volatile weather 
conditions and terrain to contain nearly 98 percent of all wildfires 
during their initial attack. That is why I am introducing a Senate 
Resolution recognizing the heroic efforts of firefighters to contain 
these dangerous fires in the West. Senators Bennett, Ensign, Wyden, 
Domenici, Kyl, Barasso, Salazar, Craig, and Cantwell have joined me in 
cosponsoring this resolution. Clearly, this Senate Resolution already 
has strong bipartisan support, and I urge my remaining colleagues to 
lend their support.
  Mr. TESTER. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid on the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 286) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 286

       Whereas the annual peak of the Western wildfire season 
     occurs during July and August;
       Whereas the 2007 Western wildfire season has been 
     characterized by continued drought, record-setting 
     temperatures, extreme fuel conditions, and widespread dry 
     lightning storms;
       Whereas firefighters have had to contend with extreme fire 
     behavior and rapid rates of fire spread;

[[Page 21746]]

       Whereas, as of July 23, 2007, more than 55,000 wildfires 
     have burned more than 4,000,000 acres of land, which is more 
     than 8,000 fires and 1,000,000 acres higher than the average 
     reported fire rate over the last 10 years;
       Whereas, from July 6 through July 8, 2007, more than 1,200 
     fires were ignited in the Western United States, most of 
     which were caused by dry lightning storms that swept across 
     California, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah;
       Whereas, as of July 23, 2007--
       (1) the State of Idaho has reported more than 760 fires 
     that have burned more than 800,000 acres;
       (2) the State of Utah has reported more than 670 fires that 
     have burned more than 660,000 acres;
       (3) the State of Nevada has reported more than 560 fires 
     that have burned more than 510,000 acres;
       (4) the State of Oregon has reported more than 1,200 fires 
     that have burned nearly 212,000 acres;
       (5) the State of California has reported more than 4,600 
     fires that have burned more than 117,000 acres;
       (6) the State of Arizona has reported more than 1,600 fires 
     that have burned more than 88,000 acres;
       (7) the State of Washington has reported more than 680 
     fires that have burned more than 64,000 acres;
       (8) the State of New Mexico has reported more than 870 
     fires that have burned nearly 35,000 acres;
       (9) the State of Montana has reported more than 960 fires 
     that have burned more than 19,000 acres;
       (10) the State of Wyoming has reported more than 200 fires 
     that have burned more than 18,000 acres; and
       (11) the State of Colorado has reported more than 740 fires 
     that have burned more than 7,400 acres;
       Whereas, at any given time during the Western wildfire 
     season, as many as 14,000 firefighters are assigned to large, 
     uncontained fires throughout the Western United States; and
       Whereas, despite tremendously volatile weather and terrain 
     conditions, Federal, State, and local firefighting units have 
     contained between 95 and 98 percent of all wildfires during 
     initial attack: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the heroic efforts of firefighters to 
     contain wildfires and protect lives, homes, and rural 
     economies throughout the Western United States; and
       (2) encourages the people and government officials of the 
     United States to express their appreciation to the brave men 
     and women serving in the firefighting services.

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