By Chavez H.R. No. 1118 77R16305 WMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On May 9, 2001, a major fire occurred in El Paso, 1-2 and the response of the city's fire department in the face of this 1-3 serious emergency indeed merits special recognition; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The severity of the blaze, which broke out in a 1-5 massive warehouse at the intersection of South Cotton and San 1-6 Antonio Street, presented firefighters with an extremely dangerous 1-7 situation that required all of their skills and physical endurance 1-8 to overcome; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Firefighters on the interior of the structure were 1-10 surrounded by smoke so thick it was necessary for them to hold onto 1-11 each other to maintain contact, while others peeled back the roof 1-12 to get fire hoses inside where they were most needed; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Although facing their third major structural fire in 1-14 a week's time, 15 units of the El Paso Fire Department, including 1-15 off-duty firefighters, bravely battled the inferno for more than 1-16 four hours to bring it under control; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The men and women who devote themselves to 1-18 protecting their fellow citizens' lives and property from fire 1-19 perform a vital service, and the members of the El Paso Fire 1-20 Department truly exemplify the qualities of dedication and 1-21 selflessness that are associated with this hazardous profession; 1-22 now, therefore, be it 1-23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 1-24 Legislature hereby commend the heroic members of the El Paso Fire 2-1 Department on their outstanding efforts on May 9, 2001; and, be it 2-2 further 2-3 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-4 prepared for the El Paso Fire Department as an expression of high 2-5 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.