[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27727]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF MATTHEW RICHARD WILL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 18, 2007

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Matthew 
Richard Will, a father, husband, firefighter, and hero who died 
recently in the line of duty helping to protect the people he had sworn 
to serve.
  Matthew Will was a Heavy Fire Equipment Operator for the California 
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire. 
Will started his career with Cal Fire in 2003 and recently graduated 
from the department's fire academy in Ione. He was assigned to the 
Hollister Air Attack Base in Cal Fire's San Benito-Monterey Unit.
  Earlier this month a house fire broke out in the heavily wooded and 
rugged area of Big Sur, California, known as Palo Colorado Canyon. The 
fire soon spread to the surrounding brush and began to threaten the 
lives and property of other Palo Colorado Canyon residents. Quick 
action by Matthew and his comrades from Cal Fire and the other 
responding fire fighting agencies kept the fire from engulfing the 
whole canyon, limiting the damage to the initial home and about fifty 
surrounding acres. As part of this effort, Matthew was on his bulldozer 
working to check the spread of the fire by clearing a fire break. 
Tragically, Matthew's bulldozer slipped and tumbled down a steep slope. 
Matthew later died of his injuries.
  Matthew Will's youth magnifies this tragedy. He was just 30 years 
old. He is survived by his wife Diana ``Dee Dee'' Will of Hollister, 
California; 10-year-old son Trysten; 8-year-old daughter Elsie; parents 
Gary and Debbie Will of Campo, California; and brothers Brandon and 
Justin Will of Campo, California.
  Madam Speaker, I have been an occasional Big Sur resident myself for 
over 50 years. In that time I have seen fire threaten or destroy the 
homes and property of neighbors and acquaintances. The people of Big 
Sur live with a heightened sense of fire's danger and a deep respect 
for the men and women who risk their lives fighting those fires. I know 
I speak for this House and my neighbors when I share our deep gratitude 
for his service as a firefighter, and our deep sorrow at his death. Our 
prayers are with Matthew Will's family, friends, and colleagues at this 
time of grief and loss.

                          ____________________