LAKEPORT >> On Saturday, July 28, the Mendocino Complex fires more than doubled in size to emerge as a major threat to Lake and Mendocino Counties. That night, flames from the River Fire would crest the hilltops just east of the city, leading to a blanket evacuation order for Lakeport and the surrounding area. Yet that evening, owner Cindy Parlee of the downtown Lakeport restaurant Renee’s Cafe would manage to feed nearly 40 Cal Fire firefighters just before closing her cafe’s doors to evacuate.
Parlee had arrived at Renee’s alone at 6 p.m. on July 28 to close down the restaurant in anticipation of an evacuation order for Lakeport. According to Parlee, her restaurant had no power at that time, and despite late summer sunsets, the sky was “already dark because of the fire.” Parlee quickly came to realize that a battalion of Cal Fire firefighters was taking a much needed rest just across the street from her restaurant. “The chief said his men had been out for two days,” Parlee said, and “there was no place to get food” because by that time Saturday many businesses in Lakeport had closed down.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Joe Buchmeier said that the battalion had been out for a double shift, and had come to a hotel across from Renee’s Cafe to rest that afternoon. They had packed lunches, Buchmeier said, and had access to Cal Fire food provisions, but Parlee “came over right when we got there” and offered them lunch. The firefighters politely declined, preferring not to be a burden on Parlee.
But Saturday was food prep day at Renee’s, and one of Parlee’s employees had just packed the refrigerator room with a week’s worth of fresh items. Buchmeier said that Parlee came back that evening with another kind offer. After some convincing and with the Cal Fire battalion’s help, Parlee fixed between 35 and 40 fresh sandwiches—filled with just-made macaroni salad, “Mama’s Potato Salad,” roast beef, ham, turkey, and more—to help refuel them for their firefight. On the heels of a 48 hour shift followed by five hours of rest and Parlee’s provisions, the firefighters went back “out on the line.”
“It just made my heart happy that we were able to feed those guys,” Parlee said. “They were all very polite.” Buchmeier happened to be a friend of Parlee’s stepdaughter, a Petaluma resident. Parlee said that Buchmeier “called a couple days later” to check in. Parlee “bent over backward” to show her appreciation, Buchmeier said.
The Renee’s Cafe episode comes amid an outpouring of gratitude from fire departments and residents of Lake County alike, with each half thanking the other for its help. The Lakeport Fire Department is in the process of responding to a variety of assistance given during the Mendocino Complex battle by business owners and individuals who were in many cases personally affected by the fires. Lakeport Chief Doug Hutchison said that he saw an “amazing response from the community during that time.”
