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.