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August 7, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextNICHOLAS HUTCHERSON, SYDNEY WATSON, NATHAN MATTHEWS, NICHOLAS DALE, AND ALL THOSE WHO SERVE ON THE FRONT LINES OF WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS
IN THE UNITED STATES
Mr. BENNET (for himself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mr. Curtis) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 844
Whereas the 2026 wildfire season has already placed
extraordinary demands on wildland firefighters, aviation
crews, emergency responders, dispatchers, and support
personnel across the Western United States;
Whereas, on June 27, 2026, 2 members of the Rifle,
Colorado, Helitack crew, Emily Barker of Michigan and Sydney
Watson of Alabama, and 1 member of the Pitman Valley,
Arizona, Helitack crew on temporary assignment in Rifle,
Colorado, Nicholas Hutcherson of Arizona, gave their lives
while responding to the Knowles and Gore Fires, which later
merged into the Snyder Fire, along the Utah-Colorado border;
Whereas 2 additional firefighters were seriously injured
while responding alongside their fallen colleagues, including
Nathan Matthews of Nebraska assigned to the Rifle Helitack
crew, who died as a result of his injuries on July 24, 2026;
Whereas, on July 12, 2026, firefighting pilot Nicholas Dale
of British Columbia, Canada, gave his life while supporting
suppression efforts on the Gold Mountain Fire in Colorado;
Whereas Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney Watson,
Nathan Matthews, and Nicholas Dale answered the call to
protect others, and in doing so, gave their lives;
Whereas the members of the Rifle and Pitman Valley Helitack
crews carried out one of the most demanding assignments in
wildland firefighting, deploying by helicopter into remote
terrain to slow the advance of dangerous wildfires; and
Whereas wildland firefighters, aviation crews, emergency
responders, dispatchers, and support personnel continue to
put themselves in danger to protect lives, communities,
infrastructure, and natural resources throughout the United
States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) honors the lives, service, and ultimate sacrifice of
Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney Watson, Nathan
Matthews, and Nicholas Dale;
(2) expresses its deepest sympathies to their families,
friends, and colleagues, and recognizes the courage and
continued recovery of the firefighters who were injured in
the line of duty;
(3) expresses the gratitude of the people of the United
States to the wildland firefighters, aviation crews,
emergency responders, dispatchers, and support personnel who
continue to protect communities throughout the United States;
(4) recognizes that protecting communities from
catastrophic wildfire requires both responsible stewardship
of forests and public lands and continued support for the
wildland firefighters, aviation crews, emergency responders,
dispatchers, and support personnel who put themselves in
danger to protect lives, communities, and natural resources;
and
(5) invites the people of the United States to honor the
courage, sacrifice, and service of the men and women who risk
their lives each wildfire season in defense of their fellow
citizens.