LAKEPORT >> Signs and messages showing appreciation for the firefighters who risked their lives to fight the recent River Fire are broadcasted far and wide in Lake County. Such thanks can be seen up and down Highway 29 and in Lakeport’s Main Street business windows. Less common are reciprocal thanks from firefighters themselves to the communities that have supported them.
At the Lakeport Fire Department station on Main Street Thursday afternoon, Fire Chief Doug Hutchison was eager to express his gratitude. “On behalf of the directors of the district and myself, we wanted to thank everybody who supported us during the River Fire,” Hutchison said.
“Our own members were evacuated with their families for quite some time,” he explained. Despite this mass evacuation, 31 of 37 fire department personnel, paid and volunteer alike, showed up during the fire to help. And they didn’t just supply their time: “Our own people went to their homes and opened up their pantries and brought food down,” Hutchison said.
“All of us were here, working around the clock on the fire,” Huchison said, explaining that they didn’t have time or means to provide food and other items for themselves.
Hutchison described firefighters going out to buy groceries at stores like Riviera Foods in Kelseyville and being handed their bagged items for free. Hutchison said that the fire department was in the process of sending thank you cards to everyone who showed support. “It was an amazing response from the community to assist us during that time. I just want to say thank you and make sure that people know how much they helped us out,” Hutchison said. “We needed the support.”
The long list of names that Hutchison is using to keep track of everyone is a full typed page, titled “Donations” and embellished with penciled notes adding addresses, more names, and the kinds of help certain individuals provided. This list, Hutchison said, is still incomplete.
Among those identified are: Safeway, Red Cross, Smith’s, Riviera Foods, Dr. Holmes, Fresh & Bangin’, Lake County Office of Education, “Helpers” like Lani, Daniyelle, JT, Spencer and Adam, Jitter Bean Coffee, Foods Etc., Lions Club, Dr. Swiffler, Bryan, Cassie’s Deli, ABC Plumbing, HDL Farm Gourmet Food & French Bakery, Rick, and Grocery Outlet.
