[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 714--HONORING THE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY WORKERS 
          WHO COURAGEOUSLY FOUGHT FIRES IN CALIFORNIA IN 2008

  Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 714

       Whereas, in 2008, there have been more than 10,000 
     wildfires in California started by natural causes and human 
     activity;
       Whereas more than 1,440,000 acres of Federal, State, and 
     local land in California burned in 2008;
       Whereas, in June 2008, fires started by lightning strikes 
     burned approximately 1,200,000 acres of Federal, State, and 
     local land in California, making the June fires the largest 
     single wildfire event in California's recorded history;
       Whereas 41 counties across California were impacted by 
     wildfires in 2008;
       Whereas more than 1,400 homes were destroyed by fires in 
     California in 2008;
       Whereas State and local firefighters have been called to 
     duty for increasingly long fire seasons, working on the front 
     lines of these fires for weeks;
       Whereas firefighters have risked their lives and endured 
     great hardship to protect lives, property, and the 
     environment in California;
       Whereas many firefighters were injured and 14 firefighters 
     tragically lost their lives in California in 2008;
       Whereas 25,000 firefighters and emergency response 
     personnel from California, 41 other States, and other nations 
     worked side-by-side to fight the wildfires;
       Whereas members of the National Guard from California and 
     other States provided essential support to the firefighting 
     effort; and
       Whereas the people of California and the United States 
     recognize the steadfast dedication of the firefighters 
     throughout the ongoing fire suppression and subsequent repair 
     and rebuilding efforts: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the firefighters and emergency workers from 
     California, 41 other States, and other nations for their 
     courageous actions and sacrifices in fighting wildfires in 
     California;
       (2) supports the continued work of firefighters to protect 
     National Forest System land, other public lands, and private 
     property from further damage;
       (3) praises the people of California for their great 
     courage in the face of the fires; and
       (4) extends heartfelt sympathy to the people who have lost 
     loved ones, homes, and businesses in the wildfires.

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