III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 766 

Honoring the individuals fighting and the individuals who have fallen 

responding to wildland fires during the ongoing 2020 wildfire season. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 26 (legislative day, OCTOBER 19), 2020 

Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. CRAMER, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. 

RISCH, Mr. CRAPO, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. HOEVEN, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. 

ENZI, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs 

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the individuals fighting and the individuals who 

have fallen responding to wildland fires during the ongoing 2020 wildfire season. 

Whereas, since 8:00 p.m. on August 18, 2020, the National 

Preparedness Level has been at 5, the highest level, indicative of above-normal wildfire activity and a maximum 

commitment of wildfire suppression resources and personnel; 

Whereas, as of September 23, 2020, 43,917 large wildfires 

had burned 7,027,861 acres across the Western United 

States; 


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SRES 766 ATS 

Whereas warmer and drier weather and mismanagement of 

the forests of the United States are exacerbating the 

threat of wildfires and contributing to the above-normal 

fire activity in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, 

and other western States in 2020; 

Whereas Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies have mobilized wildland handcrews, interagency hotshot crews, engine crews, smokejumpers, helitack crews, pilots, 

rapellers, incident management teams, first responders, 

and other wildland firefighters to help combat wildfires in 

the West; 

Whereas, as of September 23, 2020— 

(1) 534 crews and more than 30,000 wildland firefighters are mobilized to assist with efforts to contain 

wildfires that threaten communities throughout the West; 

(2) the Department of Defense had approved and 

mobilized more than 400 United States Marines, sailors, 

and soldiers to assist with wildfire suppression efforts; 

(3) multiple State Governors had mobilized members 

and units of the National Guard to assist with wildfire 

suppression efforts; and 

(4) wildland firefighters from several countries, including Mexico and Canada, had been mobilized to respond to wildfires in the United States; 

Whereas the private sector has made significant contributions 

to wildfire response, providing crews, equipment, technology, expertise, and aircraft to assist wildfire suppression efforts; 

Whereas, as of September 23, 2020, many wildland firefighters, including 2 Montanans, had paid the ultimate 

price while preparing and training to combat, protecting 

communities from, and combating wildfires in 2020; 


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SRES 766 ATS 

Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic has exacerbated the public health and public safety 

risks inherent in combatting wildfires; 

Whereas, as of September 23, 2020, dozens of people in the 

United States had lost their lives, and thousands of 

homes, approximately 30 of which were in Montana, had 

been destroyed, in wildland fires; 

Whereas, were it not for the efforts and bravery of wildland 

firefighters, those numbers would have been much higher; 

Whereas, during 2020, wildland firefighters in the United 

States have not only risked their lives to fight wildfires 

in the United States, but have also provided their services to combat the bushfires in Australia; and 

Whereas wildland firefighters, first responders, sheriffs, and 

community leaders have acted bravely and risked their 

lives to contain dangerous wildfires across the Western 

United States to protect families and critical infrastructure: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes— 

3 (A) the efforts and sacrifices of the 

4 wildland firefighters who have risked their lives 

5 to fight intense wildfires in 2020; and 

6 (B) the support, resources, and personnel 

7 mobilized by the international partners of the 

8 United States; 


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SRES 766 ATS 

1 (2) honors the bravery and heroism of the men 

2 and women assisting in responding to and combat3 ting wildfires; 

4 (3) expresses appreciation and gratitude to fire5 fighters for protecting lives and property in the 

6 United States during the ongoing 2020 wildfire sea7 son; 

8 (4)(A) honors the ultimate sacrifice of the 

9 wildland firefighters who lost their lives assisting in 

10 fighting wildfires in 2020; and 

11 (B) extends deepest condolences to the families, 

12 friends, and colleagues of those wildland firefighters; 

13 (5) expresses full support for communities 

14 throughout the West as those communities focus on 

15 recovery and rebuilding affected areas and commu16 nities; 

17 (6) values the longstanding partnerships and 

18 collaboration between Federal, State, local, and 

19 Tribal agencies coordinating wildfire response ef20 forts; and 

21 (7) supports continued cooperation and collabo22 ration between Federal, State, local, and Tribal enti23 ties to mitigate the underlying factors driving more 

24 intense wildfire activity. 

Æ 


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