Angie Craig: “the reason I ask for this privilege is to speak to my colleagues in the Senate about two families in Idaho who have just…”

“the reason I ask for this privilege is to speak to my colleagues in the Senate about two families in Idaho who have just lost their sons fighting wildfires. My sympathy to the families of Jeff Allen of Salmon, ID, and Shane Heath of the Treasure Valley of Idaho. These brave men lost their lives while trying to save our public lands from a catastrophic wildfire in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, this past Tuesday, July 22. Both men were experienced firefighters of the Indianola Helitack Crew. My heart and prayers are with the family and friends of these two firefighters and the Forest Service firefighting family. Jeff Allen was 23 years old and had been a firefighter since 1999. He started working on the Salmon-Challis National Forest on a thinning crew on the Salmon-Cobalt District in 1998. He served successfully in fighting devastating fires on the Salmon-Challis National Forest during the 2000 fire season. Jeff was a marketing major at Boise State University. Shane Heath was 22 years old and this was his fourth season with the Forest Service. He served on the Helitack crew as a certified sawyer and was also a student at Boise State University. The tragic loss of these two men will be felt throughout their communities and their selfless acts of true bravery will not be forgotten. I commend the men and women who risk their lives every day by undertaking this terribly dangerous job with courage and professionalism.”