Honoring the individuals fighting and the individuals who have fallen responding to wildland fires during the ongoing 2020 wildfire season.

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;

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;

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

Resolved,