The families of three fallen firefighters, Nito R. Guajardo, Grady Burke, and Kevin Kulow, were on hand for resolutions honoring the sacrifices these men made.

Today, the Senate remembered three firefighters who died in the line of duty over the past year. Nito R. Guajardo, of Baytown, died December 20th, 2004, while fighting a two-alarm house fire. Captain Grady Burke, of the Houston Fire Department, was killed fighting a fire on February 19th, 2005, when the roof of the building he was in collapsed. Sealy firefighter Kevin Kulow was killed on April 4th, 2004, while attempting to ensure that everyone had escaped from a burning building. Firefighting is an extremely important, yet inherently dangerous occupation, said Senator Ken Armbrister, noting that for every police officer killed in the line of duty, nine firefighters lose their lives. Senator Mario Gallegos, of Houston, himself a retired firefighter, said that firefighters know that they could lose their lives anytime, but still answer the call of duty. Their sacrifices, added Gallegos, will never be forgotten.

The Senate will reconvene Wednesday, March 9, at 11:00 A.M.

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