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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Three members of the Pharr Fire Department, |
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Battalion Chief Sergio Vasquez and engineers Jesus Gonzalez and |
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Charlie Cavazos, went above and beyond the call of duty to assist in |
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fighting the catastrophic wildfires that swept across Southern |
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California in January 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, The fires broke out in Los Angeles and were fueled by |
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extreme drought conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds, which |
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reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour; as the blazes spread |
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across Los Angeles County, nearly 200,000 residents were forced to |
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evacuate, and at least 28 people tragically lost their lives; fires |
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in the hardest-hit areas raged for weeks, overwhelming local |
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firefighters' attempts to control them; the economic impact of the |
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disaster is projected at some $150 billion, making it one of the |
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costliest in modern United States history; and |
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WHEREAS, With the fires threatening neighborhoods and entire |
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communities across the region, a team from the Pharr Fire |
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Department courageously answered the call for assistance, |
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mobilizing with seven other agencies as part of the Alamo Strike |
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Team and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System; these highly |
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trained and dedicated individuals worked side by side with |
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firefighters from around the country to contain the blazes and help |
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protect the lives and property of those who were in the path of |
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destruction; facing a task that at times seemed impossible, they |
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braved treacherous conditions, worked through exhaustion, and |
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willingly committed to spending weeks away from their families to |
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render aid; notably, the Pharr Fire Department was the only fire |
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department south of San Antonio that stepped forward to help during |
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this crisis; and |
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WHEREAS, These individuals distinguished themselves through |
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their willingness to venture far from home and put themselves in |
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harm's way at a time of desperate need, and through their actions, |
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they have provided a testament to the strength of the Pharr |
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community and the spirit of solidarity that unites us as Americans; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Battalion Chief Sergio Vasquez and |
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engineers Jesus Gonzalez and Charlie Cavazos of the Pharr Fire |
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Department for deploying to California to battle the historic 2025 |
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wildfires and extend to them sincere appreciation for their |
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selfless dedication to their duties in and beyond their community; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the City of Pharr and for Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Gonzalez, and |
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Mr. Cavazos as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of |
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Representatives. |