The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE TAHOE FIRE AND FUELS TEAM
______
HON. TOM McCLINTOCK
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 12, 2022
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the groundbreaking work of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team is a group of dedicated professionals who have protected the homes and businesses of the Tahoe community for over a decade. Since its founding in 2008, they have treated over 65,000 acres in the Lake Tahoe Basin's wildland-urban interface. This includes forest thinning by both hand and machine, as well as prescribed burns. Over twelve years, they have invested $133 million into forest health community projects to reduce fuels in the forests and protect the Lake Tahoe region from wildfires.
Most importantly, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team played an integral part on the evening of August 30, 2021, when the Caldor Fire reached the Tahoe Basin with a destruction path of 200,000 burned acres and 1,000 destroyed structures left behind it. On this day, this team sprang into action to defend the communities of Christmas Valley, Meyers, and South Lake Tahoe. Remarkably, they successfully saved all structures in South Lake Tahoe from the destruction of the fire. This was all made possible because of their prior efforts to reduce forest fuels and increase defenses around homes and community buildings. Without their past and present efforts, the totality of the destruction in these Lake Tahoe communities would be unimaginable.
The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team understands, and has demonstrated for years, the importance of proactive forest management in preventing wildfires. These efforts have protected communities in the Tahoe Basin and significantly improved the resilience of the surrounding landscape.
Madam Speaker, it is impossible to overstate the necessity of fire protection or to measure the countless contributions this team has made to our community. It has been my privilege to represent such a dedicated group who continuously defends one of California's most remarkable natural treasures. I thank Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team for their extraordinary impact on the Lake Tahoe community, and the countless individuals they have protected due to their tireless efforts.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(2)
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up