María Elvira Salazar: “I come to speak in regard to three firefighters killed in the State of Colorado in the last day and a half. These three…”

“I come to speak in regard to three firefighters killed in the State of Colorado in the last day and a half. These three firefighters are part of the legion of first responders who make sure they are keeping us safe day in and day out. In Colorado, in the last day we have had three significant fires that have broken out: one in Crowley County, one in El Paso County in Fort Carson, and a third in Garfield and Pitkin Counties in Carbondale. The fire in Crowley County, we had two volunteer firefighters who gave their lives fighting that fire. They are John Schwartz and Terry DeVore. To them, their families, we appreciate their sacrifice, serving as first responders often do, putting their lives on the line to make sure communities are protected. In the case of Gert Marais, who was fighting the fire at Fort Carson and whose plane crashed while he was fighting the fire, to his family we also send our condolences and appreciation. These are unusual fires for us in Colorado.”