[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21983]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO THE FIREFIGHTERS OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO COUNTIES WHO 
            GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2007

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, it is with great 
sadness that I rise today along with my colleagues Rep. Ellen O. 
Tauscher and Rep. Jerry McNerney to recognize three individuals in our 
districts who have given real meaning to the term ``hero.'' Deputy Fire 
Marshall Ron Wiley of Richmond Fire Department, Captain Matt Burton and 
Fire Engineer Scott Desmond both of Contra Costa Consolidated Fire 
Department each lost their life in the line of duty this past month. 
The loss has been enormous for the families they leave behind and for 
their colleagues who have served our communities alongside them.
  We ask a tremendous amount from our first responders every single 
day. They spend their time and talents educating us on how to stay safe 
and well and then when all the safeguards fail, we ask them to set 
aside their own safety for us. Ron Wiley, Matt Burton, and Scott 
Desmond knew well the risks they took but they each also held a deep 
commitment to service in our communities.
  It has been said of each of these men that the love of their work as 
firefighters was second only to their love of family and our thoughts 
and prayers are with those families now. We in the communities they 
served so selflessly now stand to support the loved ones they have left 
behind.
  Richmond Deputy Fire Marshall Ron Wiley, Contra Costa Consolidated 
Fire Captain Matt Burton and Contra Costa Consolidated Fire Engineer 
Scott Desmond were mentors and role models and will be forever missed. 
Even though we don't often express it, we as a community value our fire 
fighters highly and are grateful for the service and sacrifice of these 
brave men.

                          ____________________