[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21496-21497]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS

  Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 265, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 265) honoring the firefighters who 
     sacrificed their lives while battling the Station Fire in 
     southern California in August 2009.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. MERKLEY. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 265) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 265

       Whereas in late August 2009, the Angeles National Forest 
     and neighboring communities north of Los Angeles, California 
     were engulfed by an intense wildfire, which came to be known 
     as the ``Station Fire'';
       Whereas the Station Fire, ignited by arson on August 26, 
     2009, burned more than 160,000 acres of public lands and 
     private property in Los Angeles County and the Angeles 
     National Forest, including more than 160 structures and 
     homes;
       Whereas as of September 9, 2009, the Station Fire was the 
     10th largest wildfire in modern California history, and the 
     largest wildfire in the modern history of Los Angeles County;
       Whereas as of September 9, 2009, the Station Fire continued 
     to threaten 12,000 structures in the National Forest and 
     nearby communities such as Acton, Altadena, Glendale, La 
     Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Pasadena, Littlerock, 
     Sunland, and Tujunga;
       Whereas more than 8,000 fire personnel and 800 fire engines 
     and approximately 40 helicopters, 13 fixed winged aircraft, 
     and 88 water tenders were deployed statewide to assist with 
     firefighting efforts;

[[Page 21497]]

       Whereas the extraordinary effort made by firefighters 
     throughout the region contributed to the preservation of the 
     historic Mount Wilson Observatory, a national landmark for 
     astronomical research;
       Whereas Fire Captain Tedmund D. ``Ted'' Hall, aged 47, and 
     Firefighter Specialist Arnaldo ``Arnie'' Quinones, aged 34, 
     lost their lives in the line of duty fighting the Station 
     Fire;
       Whereas Tedmund D. Hall joined the Los Angeles County Fire 
     Department on April 22, 1981;
       Whereas during his time in the Los Angeles County Fire 
     Department, Tedmund D. Hall served the city of Lakewood, the 
     city of Whittier, the city of La Puente, and the Department's 
     command and control team;
       Whereas in January 2001, Tedmund D. Hall was promoted to 
     fire captain;
       Whereas Tedmund D. Hall is survived by his wife, Katherine, 
     sons Randall and Steven, and parents, Roland Ray and Donna 
     Marie Hall;
       Whereas Arnaldo Quinones joined the Los Angeles County Fire 
     Department on August 6, 1998;
       Whereas during his time in the Los Angeles County Fire 
     Department, Arnaldo Quinones served the city of Palmdale, the 
     city of Covina, and the city of La Canada Flintridge;
       Whereas in December 2005, Arnaldo Quinones was promoted to 
     firefighter specialist; and
       Whereas Arnaldo Quinones is survived by his wife, Loressa, 
     who is expecting their first child, and his mother Sonia 
     Quinones: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families, 
     fellow firefighters, and friends of Tedmund D. Hall and 
     Arnaldo Quinones;
       (2) recognizes the noble and brave service that 
     firefighters provide to every community in the United States; 
     and
       (3) honors Tedmund D. Hall and Arnaldo Quinones for the 
     sacrifices they made in giving their lives to protect 
     Californians from the Station Fire.

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