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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 376 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 376

 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the men and women who fought 
the Jasper Fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota should be commended 
                       for their heroic efforts.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            October 12 (legislative day, September 22), 2000

   Mr. Daschle (for himself and Mr. Johnson) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the men and women who fought 
the Jasper Fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota should be commended 
                       for their heroic efforts.

Whereas the Jasper Fire started at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 24, 2000, near 
        Jasper Cave in the Black Hills National Forest and was contained at 6:00 
        p.m. on September 8, 2000;
Whereas two days after it started, the Jasper Fire nearly quadrupled in size in 
        a matter of hours, burned as fast as 100 acres per second, and 
        ultimately became the worst forest fire in the history of the Black 
        Hills, consuming 83,508 acres;
Whereas the Jasper Fire threatened private homes in the Black Hills, including 
        the South Dakota communities of Deerfield, Custer, and Hill City, Jewel 
        Cave National Monument, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and forced 
        the evacuation of many residents in northwestern Custer County and 
        southwestern Pennington County;
Whereas volunteers from 76 community fire departments from across South Dakota 
        made up a substantial part of the 1,160 men and women who worked around 
        the clock to contain the Jasper Fire;
Whereas the Tatanka Hotshot crew, an elite 20-person firefighting team based in 
        the Black Hills, came from fighting fires in western Wyoming to help 
        fight the Jasper Fire;
Whereas while the Tatanka Hotshot crew has fought several fires throughout the 
        country, the Jasper Fire was the first major fire they fought in their 
        home forest;
Whereas the outpouring of support for the firefighters by local residents and 
        communities, such as Hill City and Custer, helped boost firefighters' 
        morale; and
Whereas, in spite of the rugged terrain and the intense speed and size of the 
        fire, the Jasper Fire was contained successfully with only one home lost 
        and with no injuries to any firefighters or local citizens: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the Jasper Fire was the largest forest fire in the 
        history of the Black Hills National Forest, consuming 83,508 
        acres;
            (2) the volunteer firefighters from across South Dakota 
        played a crucial role in combating the Jasper Fire and 
        preventing it from destroying hundreds of homes;
            (3) the Tatanka Hotshot crew was instrumental in providing 
        the effort, expertise, and training necessary to establish a 
        fire line around the Jasper Fire; and
            (4) the men and women who fought the Jasper Fire are 
        commended for their bravery, their extraordinary efforts to 
        contain the fire, and their commitment to protect lives, 
        property, and the surrounding communities.
                                 <all>
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