IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 828 

Honoring the firefighters and other public servants who responded to the 

wildfires in south Georgia during the spring of 2007. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 15, 2007 

Mr. BARROW (for himself, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. 

SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. 

JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. 

DEAL of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, and Mr. LINDER) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the firefighters and other public servants who responded to the wildfires in south Georgia during the 

spring of 2007. 

Whereas there are more than 1,100,000 firefighters in over 

30,000 fire departments in the United States; 

Whereas American firefighters respond to the call of duty 

more than 20,000,000 times during a typical year; 

Whereas the number of wildfires in the United States has escalated in recent years with over 8,500,000 acres burned 

in 2005; 

Whereas in the spring of 2007, the State of Georgia lost 

more forestland and timberland, and incurred more fiVerDate Aug 31 2005 05:03 Nov 16, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR828.IH HR828

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•HRES 828 IH 

nancial losses, due to wildfires than ever before in Georgia history; 

Whereas the fire at the Georgia Bay Complex, the largest 

wildfire in southeast history, burned over 440,000 acres 

in Georgia and destroyed 9 homes; 

Whereas over 21,000 additional acres burned in the 21 county emergency declaration area; 

Whereas over $60,000,000 worth of private and State-owned 

timber was lost in the wildfires; 

Whereas over $60,000,000 was spent to control the wildfires, 

and it is expected to cost approximately $30,000,000 to 

replant the timber on these lands; 

Whereas over 3,300 brave firefighters from 44 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico fought alongside Georgia firefighters to contain the wildfires that burned in southern 

Georgia; 

Whereas the time actually spent fighting fires is but a fraction of the immense amount of time spent in training and 

practicing how to fight fires, and such training and practice is essential not only to prevent the loss of life and 

property from fires but also to prevent the loss of life of 

those engaged in fighting fires; 

Whereas such training and practice represents a tremendous 

amount of time away from family, and, in the case of volunteer firefighters, time away from family and businesses; 

Whereas it is a testament to the training and skill of the 

3,300 full-time and volunteer firefighters who fought the 

wildfires in Georgia that such an enormous disaster was 

contained and beaten back without the loss of a single 

life; and 


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•HRES 828 IH 

Whereas the unselfish bravery, immense courage, and outstanding success of those firefighters should be recognized by a grateful Nation: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the firefighters of the State of Geor3 gia and all of those who fought to suppress and con4 tain the destructive wildfires in south Georgia dur5 ing the spring of 2007; 

6 (2) expresses its deepest sympathy to those who 

7 lost their homes and businesses to the wildfires; 

8 (3) pledges its continued support for efforts to 

9 prevent, fight, and contain wildfires in the United 

10 States; and 

11 (4) pledges its continued support for the fire12 fighters of Georgia and the United States in their 

13 efforts to prevent fire related disasters. 

Æ 


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