“I am honoring Nicholas Dale. He was a helicopter pilot from Canada who died fighting a wildfire in Colorado. Firefighters take huge risks to protect our communities, and we are grateful for their service.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nicholas Dale, who gave his life battling the Gold Mountain fire in southwestern Colorado. On July 12, Nicholas was piloting a firefighting helicopter when his aircraft went down in Silver Jack Reservoir. He was 56 years old and had traveled from Sooke, British Columbia, to help protect a State that was not his own. We owe an enormous debt to aerial firefighters like Nicholas. Mission after mission, they fly into smoke and over rugged terrain so ground crews can gain the upper hand and communities have a fighting chance. Nicholas is the fourth firefighter to lose his life battling Colorado wildfires this past month. His death is a sobering reminder of the risks wildland firefighters and aviators face every time they take to the sky or fire line. Mr. Speaker, few Coloradans will ever see their faces, but everyone benefits from their courage. We thank them sincerely.”