2-year-old distributes burritos to Carr Fire firefighters in viral video

2-year-old distributes burritos to Carr Fire firefighters in viral video

A little girl in Northern California is doing what she can to help firefighters battling the deadly Carr Fire.

2-year-old distributes burritos to Carr Fire firefighters in viral video

Two-year-old Gracie Lutz and her mother, Chelsey Lutz, handed out breakfast burritos to a bunch of brave firefighters coming off their shifts on Monday morning, and footage of the heartwarming moment has since gone viral online.

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“Feeding these guys a warm breakfast,” Chelsey captioned the footage she posted to Facebook, which has since been viewed over 100,000 times. Fittingly, little Gracie appears to be sporting firefighter-inspired rain boots for the occasion.

Chelsey told CBS News that she was inspired to do something for the firefighters by her brother Kody, who is helping to battle the blaze alongside her other brother Colton and father Jerry.

"She has uncles and a grandpa working on the Carr Fire, so we wanted to give back," Chelsey added to Fox News.

According to Chelsey, Kody had mentioned to their mother that he was “dying” for a burrito near the end of his shift, which gave Chelsey and her mom the idea to prepare a big batch of burritos for the CalFire crew. They then recruited little Gracie to help hand them out.

“So sweet and encouraging in a time of such hardship...great job Gracie,” reads one of the comments on Chelsey’s Facebook post.

“I came across this on Instagram and it made me cry so many happy tears. This is amazing!” another person wrote.

Chelsey told CBS News she’d even be back that evening, to serve spaghetti.

"We're just there to help," said Chelsey.

How a local firefighter has learned to ‘embrace the suck’ as she battles cancer

How a local firefighter has learned to ‘embrace the suck’ as she battles cancer

MYRTLE BEACH 

It was tough for 36-year-old Jennifer Gilbert to give up her normal schedule and daily duties of her job as a firefighter at Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue. Her life flipped upside down March 9 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

How a local firefighter has learned to ‘embrace the suck’ as she battles cancer

As a firefighter of 10 years at MBFR, Gilbert used to spend her days and nights at Fire Station #6 on 38th Avenue N. Now she works 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in an office as she continues treatment.

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“Ironically, it was self caught. I was doing some work for my mom at our home computer and I went like this,” Gilbert said, crossing her arms under her breasts. “I was like, ‘Hmm, that wasn’t there before.’ I feel so lucky and so blessed that, what if I would have not crossed my arms? What if I would have not pursued it?”

Gilbert has invasive ductal carcinoma, a common type of breast cancer. She said it means the cancer grows in the milk duct before it spreads to the outside tissue and cells.

“It was caught very early and there’s a high percentage that it can be cured and that this won’t be an ongoing issue, which is fantastic news, but there’s always that skepticism in the back of your mind,” Gilbert said.

When she first learned she had cancer, she said a lot was running through her mind.

“How do I fix it? What do I have to do to make it go away? What does my future look like?’” Gilbert explained. “I still think five months later it’s kinda surreal. You just hit it head on and do what you’re supposed to. I just want to have it taken care of and move on with my life.”

Gilbert said one of her biggest challenges she’s had to overcome is being restricted from things she was once accustomed to doing due to surgeries, treatment and not feeling well.

“It’s a daily roller coaster, I try to keep my life as normal as possible,” she added. “I come to work on my good days and I stay home and rest on my challenging days and I just try to keep going. Just keep moving, keep doing what I’m supposed to be doing and keep focusing on the outcome and a better life after.

“The side effects that come with the treatment and medication are things that you wouldn’t even think of that affect your daily life and those side effects can be challenging. The good days I would say the side effects are a little less or a little more manageable.”

Gilbert recently completed her last treatment of chemotherapy. The fire department, which she said has been supportive since day one, threw her a pizza party last week to celebrate the milestone.

“We’re very proud of her for going through it and coming out on top and wish her all the best,” said Lt. Jonathan Evans with MBFR.

Just like it was chance Gilbert felt the lump on her breast, the same applies to how she became a firefighter in the first place.

Shortly after she moved from Michigan to Myrtle Beach about 12 years ago, she was working at a recreational center when someone from the department stopped by and mentioned they were hiring.

“I didn’t even know what a firefighter was. I didn’t know what it entailed, but I was up for the challenge,” Gilbert added.

Although she faces a different challenge now, she’s learned to “embrace the suck” and to appreciate her good days.

“Remember that there’s a purpose for all of life’s challenges,” Gilbert said. “You can either let those challenges beat you down or use them as building blocks to become a better version of yourself.”

20 from NC deployed to help with California wildfires as 2nd firefighter is killed

20 from NC deployed to help with California wildfires as 2nd firefighter is killed

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (WNCN/AP) - The North Carolina Forest Service said it has sent 20 people to help fight raging California wildfires, one of which claimed the life of a second firefighter Sunday.

North Carolina has an additional 50 people spread across California, Oregon, Utah, Texas and Colorado helping with wildfires, officials said Sunday.

The second firefighter died while fighting the Ferguson Fire -- a huge blaze near California's Yosemite National Park.
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Mike Theune, a spokesman at the Ferguson Fire, says the firefighter was treated for injuries at the scene Sunday but died before he could be hospitalized.

Theune says the firefighter was part of a crew removing brush and other fuel near the fire's front lines. He didn't have additional details.
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Earlier this month, firefighter Barden Varney was killed when the bulldozer he was operating overturned. At least seven other firefighters have been injured since the blaze broke out July 13.
 

Some evacuations have been lifted but officials say Yosemite Valley, the heart of tourism in the park will remain closed until August 3.

A Northern California sheriff earlier Sunday said a sixth person died in a raging wildfire that has destroyed more than 500 buildings.
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Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said Sunday that the remains were found within the boundary of the Carr Fire near Redding, about 230 miles north of San Francisco.

He said the victim, who was not identified, didn't evacuate despite receiving an evacuation warning.

Bosenko says the sheriff's department has seven outstanding missing persons reports.

The Carr Fire has also claimed the lives of two firefighters and two children and their great-grandmother.

Don Ray Smith, 81, was a bulldozer operator who was helping clear vegetation in the path of the wildfire when he died. Redding Fire Inspector Jeremy Stoke was also killed, though no details were provided.

The other three victims - 70-year-old Melody Bledsoe and her two great-grandchildren, 5-year-old James Roberts and 4-year-old Emily Roberts - died when walls of flames swept through the family's rural property on the outskirts of Redding.

In Corvallis, cramming for finals one day, fighting fires the next

In Corvallis, cramming for finals one day, fighting fires the next

Jakob Eisenbeiss could see the roaring flames from four blocks away.
He heard the cries of concerned neighbors as the flames consumed the house beside theirs, wondering if their home would be next. But Eisenbeiss could not afford to get distracted. He had a job to do. With his lieutenant at his side, he got to work.

In Corvallis, cramming for finals one day, fighting fires the next

Eisenbeiss felt drained after the July fire was out. He tried to quench his thirst by chugging water. Despite his exhaustion, his day was not done. Eisenbeiss still needed to put away his equipment and hose down the firetruck. His shift finally ended at 3 a.m.
Eisenbeiss was in class less than four hours later.
The 20-year-old Oregon State University student volunteers for the Corvallis Fire Department through a year-round program that offers free housing in fire stations and emergency training to participants who work at least 120 hours per month. The seven volunteers this summer are college students. They balance the life of a firefighter and the life of a college student, squeezing homework sessions between emergency calls.

Despite his conflicting responsibilities, Eisenbeiss said he is glad he is in the program."It's the most worthwhile thing I've ever done," he said.
The fire department's emergency calls have more than doubled over the past 25 years, but its paid employees have increased by only a fraction, said Division Chief Douglas Baily. The volunteer program helps fill positions created by the lack of workers. Most of the participants in the resident volunteer program are college students who can eliminate the financial stress of paying for a dorm room. At Oregon State, the least expensive dorm was about $2,000 a quarter in 2018.
Gregory Murphy, an 18-year-old student from Linn Benton Community College, is a residential volunteer firefighter. He shares a small room with two others. Half walls separate their three beds.
"It's not too bad once you get used to it," Murphy said.
Fire department volunteers work at five stations across the Corvallis Rural Fire District. They are expected to respond to emergencies at any moment when they are on duty and live in the stations alongside professionals.
They work 24 hours on duty, then 48 off duty, allowing them to attend college classes. They often study in the stations' dorms. Murphy studies civil engineering, and Eisenbiess studies biology and pre-medicine. They have to be ready to drop their homework when the alarm sounds.
"There are some nights I just wish I lived in a dorm," Murphy said.
The volunteers balance school and firefighting with support from teachers and colleagues. Their rule is to be a student first, volunteer second, Murphy said.
The firefighters make their way to the station's gym every afternoon. Afterward, the station kitchen fills with the aroma of a home-cooked meal, cooked by a different firefighter every day. The crew gathers at the table to eat dinner, which one night included Hawaiian chicken and rice.

Firefighter from Alberta perishes in northwestern Ontario forest fire

Firefighter from Alberta perishes in northwestern Ontario forest fire

Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry statement on forest firefighter death. Premier Ford visits fire-threatened areas around Parry Sound

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MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTS
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Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Honourable Jeff Yurek, issued the following statement:

I learned yesterday that an Alberta wildland firefighter assisting our response to wildfires in northwestern Ontario has died. Our hearts go out to his family and friends back home, to his crew-members and to all the Alberta firefighters who are helping to keep Ontarians safe.‎

Firefighter from Alberta perishes in northwestern Ontario forest fire

These brave men and women are working around the clock to help fight these fires. It's dangerous and hard work — they are our first line of defence and they step up each and every time. We're grateful for their efforts and their sacrifices, and for reminding us that we're never stronger than when we work together.

Ontario is fortunate to have fire crews from Mexico to Minnesota; from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island helping to fight the fires burning in northern and central Ontario, alongside our law enforcement, municipalities, Indigenous communities and emergency staff.

Premier Doug Ford visits Parry Sound area communities stricken by forest fires

PARRY SOUND — Premier Doug Ford visited people in communities near Parry Soundwhere hundreds of firefighters from across North America are battling major wildfires.

The Premier, accompanied by Jeff Yurek, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Norm Miller, MPP Parry Sound-Muskoka, met with people in the affected communities today, as well as with teams that are fighting the fires and managing the evacuation process. The government's priority is to keep the public and emergency responders safe, and to protect private property.

"It's a terrible thing to have to flee your home because of a forest fire," said Premier Ford. "These fires have shown how communities in Ontario come together in times of need. Our government is doing everything we can to bring these fires under control and keep you safe."

The Premier praised forest fire teams that are working with the Ontario Provincial Police, community leaders and other agencies to battle fires in the Parry Sound area and other parts of the province. As well, he recognized the help Ontario is receiving from beyond its borders.

"I want to thank all of the courageous men and women from near and far for helping us respond to this emergency," said Ford. "And I am grateful to the premiers of provinces that are helping Ontario, as well as leaders in the U.S. and Mexico who are providing assistance. We are working side by side as one united community."

Why Women Leave

Both sexes long for love, but women tend to desire marriage more than men do. Most girls dream of their “Prince Charming” and plan their “big day” from a very young age. It is the wife who is usually concerned about marital issues as statistics show they buy the most books on the subject and will pursue counseling more readily than a husband will. Wives tend to view themselves as the major source for holding the relationship together and will expend tremendous effort to resolve all conflicts. With these facts in mind, that women long for marriage and seek to keep it intact at higher rates than men do, it is all the more surprising to learn this: Women file for divorce two times more often than men do.
                                   

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why is this? Why do women wish to end marriage twice as often as men do? There are twoprimary reasons women file for divorce in this country. The number one reason is mental cruelty or emotional abuse. In this case, wives declare their husbands to be “indifferent, emotionally distant, and/or noncommunicative.” The second top reason is neglect. In this case, wives report their husbands to be either away from the home too much physically and/or mentally and emotionally absent when they are home. Divorce due to mental cruelty and neglect occurs more often than any of the other reasons combined, including physical abuse, infidelity, substance abuse, criminal behavior, and fraud. (Tragically, many women in extreme physical peril who should leave refuse to do so, but that’s a whole different topic.) Simply stated, women leave when they feel emotionally neglected.

Dr. Willard F. Harley Jr., a noted and well-respected author and marriage counselor, lists the following nine statements as the most commonly quoted to him by women seeking divorce:

1. I feel alone and abandoned.

2. My husband is no longer my friend.

3. The only attention he gives me is when he wants sex.

4. He is never there for me when I need him the most; he’s not interested in my problems.

5. When he hurts my feelings, he never apologizes; he just says I’m too sensitive.

6. He rarely considers my opinion when making decisions; he lives as if he’s single.

7. We are ships that pass in the night; he goes his way, I go mine.

8. We have become strangers; I don’t know who he is anymore.

9. He doesn’t show interest in me or what I do.

Wow, pretty sad stuff, isn’t it? Can you feel the loneliness, the sense of abandonment, the loss?  Sadly, this is the hardest issue for marriage counselors to treat, yet it is the most common. Dr. Harley writes that husbands are typically “mystified” by these complaints and do not understand why emotional neglect is grounds for divorce. Do you see the dilemma, the impasse? Women need emotional connection above all else, so much so that they will leave if it’s not there. When they come to believe that their husband no longer “sees them,” they stop trying to save the marriage. But the husband doesn’t “see” that this is a problem, like physical abuse, so why leave? How does a man truly emotionally connect with a woman? How can he give her what he himself doesn’t need in the same way? How can he ever please her? Is it even possible?  Speaking from my own experience of nearly 29 years of living with a man, the answer is yes! Men, you can please your wife. You can give her what she truly wants from you, and it’s not as hard as you think.

It begins with access. Give your wife complete access into your world. Men tend to be compartmentalized; it is their nature, it is ingrained into the very design of their brain. Think of a man’s brain as being full of boxes on a shelf or rooms in a house. One box or room is “work,” one is “hobbies,” one is “wife,” and so on. If she is only allowed into her one allocated room, and the rest is off limits to her, the marriage will eventually fail. A woman needs to have access to every box, to every room in her husband’s life. Otherwise, over time she will begin to feel left out, like an unwanted, uninvited stranger.

Access can only happen with attention--undivided attention. When you are present with your wife, actually be present. Do not let your mind be elsewhere. Listen to her, even if it’s stuff you don’t necessarily want to hear. And talk to her; tell her about work, let her know what’s going on in your world; share your thoughts on all topics and don’t allocate them to separate boxes as she will see this as being secretive even if it isn’t intended to be. Seek her input; make all decisions together, like a couple—not as if you’re single, or before you know it, you will be. Make sure both parties are enthusiastic about the decisions you make--i.e., where to go for vacation--so that nothing is begrudged and no one is the martyr. If a husband always considers his wife’s feelings when making decisions, he will gain her trust and her approval. As the trust grows, so does the compatibility, as each of you tries to please the other in all of your choices. Seek her opinion and she will seek yours. Seek to please her by giving her your undivided attention and she will seek to please you in the ways you need.

Don’t spend too much time apart. It is very easy for the firefighter couple to become as “ships that pass in the night.”  Firefighters are doers, and they tend to overcommit. A wife can come to feel neglected as he works long, 48-hour shifts and then goes on to work a second job and then project after project after project. With such a rigorous schedule, when he finally does come home, he’s so exhausted as to be nothing but a TV-watching zombie who can’t or won’t speak. No amount of money or achievement is worth the loss of intimacy with your wife. If she ends up divorcing you because of neglect, both your heart and your income will be broken in half. You will have been working all of that overtime for nothing.

Many men fear that if they let their wife “in” to every “room” or “box” they will lose their identity, their space, their freedom. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the result is the absolute opposite. My husband Mike leaves no doors locked between us, denies me nothing. He is an open book and allows me full access to his deepest thoughts and seeks my input on every decision. Because of this openness, he has my complete and total trust and with that trust lots of freedom. He treats me like a cherished, adored, and desired guest who is both welcome and wanted in his world. He views time spent with me as more valuable than any amount of overtime, as do I. This is what I need, this is what most women need, to feel emotionally connected and not neglected. Because I feel cherished, I am secure enough to give him his “space” when he needs it. And because of our passionate love affair, he is proud to have his identity intertwined with mine.

I'm a Firefighter Spouse—How Cool Is That?

By Anne Gagliano

Yes, there are some negatives to living with a firefighter. It’s a stressful profession with some occasional side effects, such as irritability from exertion or trauma, which they can’t help but bring home. And nights away from each other are sometimes difficult, resulting in sleep deprivation for you both. High cancer rates and extreme danger cause lots of anxiety for the firefighter’s family. Those who risk much for a living risk breaking someone’s heart. But in spite of all of this, it’s still the best job in the world, and I am so very proud to be the wife of a firefighter. It can be hard sometimes, but here are four reasons why it is, without a doubt, so incredibly awesome:

Your Support Is Extra Meaningful. Spousal support is part of any marriage. We all need the encouragement of our loved ones to get through life, to lift each other up when we’re down. But when you support a firefighter, you somehow get to do more than the average spouse because firefighting is so much more than the average profession—many would say it’s a calling.

You Get to Share in the Excitement. There is never a dull moment in the firehouse. Every day brings new and exciting challenges, so there’s no such thing as “the same ol’ same ol.’’  And here’s the benefit for a firefighter spouse: Because they never get bored, neither do you.

I can’t wait to hear from my firefighter about his day. His stories not only entertain but inspire. “I delivered a baby on I-5, I pulled a child from a fire, I brought a senior back from a heart attack” and on and on it goes. When I call the firehouse I hear the excitement, the pure adrenaline in his voice—and it pulls me right in. The sense of urgency, the “now-ness,” the “in the moment” of it all makes me feel alive—just as he does. His incredible existence makes mine, by proxy, just as wonderful.

The news media only seems to report the bad things people do to one another; but when you live with a firefighter, you get to hear about all the really good stuff they do, which instantly restores your faith in humanity; how cool is that?
Firefighters save lives; for this reason, their
work has the highest of meaning. They keep
people safe, and without them,
society would   
quickly collapse. When you support such a
person, you become part of that heroic team.
Whenever you sacrifice a little of yourself to
 nurture a drained firefighter, by extension,
you get to save lives too. Your love and                                       Click This 

strength enable them to do what they do—better;how cool is that?                                                      
You Get to Live with a Strong, Capable Partner. Firefighters are usually driven, Type A personalities with a giving nature and a very strong work ethic. It takes a lot of energy and self-sacrifice to do what they do, and these qualities are a major blessing at home.

My firefighter works hard all day every day. He’s always got several projects, and he basically never quits till he gets the job done. He strives to keep the community safe and his fellow firefighters safer while doing so. This passion is inherent to his character; because of this, I can always count on him to come through for me too. He simply can’t help himself; if he says he’ll do it, he’ll do it.

Firefighters are problem solvers and fixers by nature, and this is especially nice for a family and a home, because let’s face it—what family doesn’t have problems and what home doesn’t need fixing?  With or without the proper tools, he somehow manages to do what needs to be done. He’s always there; I can always count on him. And this is a nice thing, especially in a world that is so unreliable, chaotic, and scary. With my firefighter, I feel safe and secure.

Honor, courage and strength—this is what it takes to be a hero, and this is what it takes to make a successful marriage. When you live with a firefighter, these qualities are always present; how cool is that?

You Get to Have Lots of Time Together. True, you have to spend long chunks of time apart, such as 24-hour and 48-hour shifts, but you get to spend long chunks of time together too. Sometimes with just one day off, we get a whole week!  This has been awesome for our relationship and for our children.

The firefighter schedule allows for Dad to be in the classroom, to go on field trips, and to participate in extracurricular activities. It also means Hubby is available to help with household repairs and major projects during business hours. And he’s often free for mid-week date nights and other spur-of-the-moment romantic evenings as well. Wahoo!

The 24-hour shift means less commuting, which is especially nice for big-city dwellers with horrific traffic issues. Less commuting means less soul-stealing, wasted time on the road and more time at home. And because of less commuting, you can live farther out from the city, which can be very, very nice  (i.e., a peaceful lake existence).

Most people have to struggle and wait patiently for those occasional “three-day weekends,” but firefighters get long weekends all the time. Yes, they sacrifice during the shift—but they reap a major perk for doing so. They come home tired, but they come home fulfilled, and they come home ready to spend lots of time with you.

I’m a firefighter spouse, and proud to be so. His heroism brings meaning, excitement, and strength into my world that leaves me in awe. He’s my champion in every way, but daily he seeks me out above all others, declaring that I am his inspiration, his source of strength, his hero; how cool is that?

Firefighting Couple

Husband and wife firefighting duo Kenny and Julie Griffin pose in their turnout gear in the exercise room at their Lincolnton home on Monday February 13, 2012. Julie is employed full-time with the Charlotte Fire Dept. and Kenny is full-time with the Gastonia Fire Dept. 

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I had an assignment to photograph this Lincolnton couple yesterday. I think if they ever decided to quit fighting fires for a living they could probably make it as interior designers. Their rural home was beautiful and game me a couple of excellent backdrops for photos. 

It was abundantly clear after spending half an hour or so with these guys that they love (at least) three things; each other, their careers and their dogs. 

I think the top photo sums it up, but as always, I think it's important to try to get at least two distinct shots from a portrait assignment, if possible. 

I also wanted to incorporate the red striped walls and vintage piano into a photo and have an option where they weren't in turnout gear. I ended up framing such that you can hardly tell they're at a piano, but I still like it as a more intimate compliment to the above photo.  

One dead, two firefighters hurt battling wildfires in U.S. West

By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A tractor operator was killed while trying to clear brush around a massive wildfire in central Oregon and two firefighters were injured battling a blaze burning at the edge of Yosemite in California, officials in the two states said on Wednesday.

Crews responding to a report of a charred tractor near the 36,000-acre (14,600-hectare) Substation Fire burning near The Dalles, Oregon, found the unidentified driver nearby, Wasco County Sheriff's officials said on the department's Facebook page.

"It appears the tractor operator died as a result of exposure to the fire," the sheriff's office said, asking for the public's help in identifying the victim.

In California, one firefighter broke a leg, requiring hospitalization, and a second was treated for heat-related illness, after fighting the so-called Ferguson Fire burning on the western boundary of Yosemite, said Richard Egan of the U.S. Forest Service.

The United States is facing an unusually active wildfire year, with some 3.3 million acres (1.3 million hectares) already charred this year, more than the year-to-date average of about 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) over the past decade.

The California injuries came as crews made a major push to cut containment lines around the conflagration before thunderstorms forecast for this week further whip up the flames.

"These next 48 hours are going to be pretty critical for us in terms of containing the fire," Egan said, adding that lightning strikes could touch off new hot spots.

The blaze has blackened more than 17,300 acres (7,000 hectares) of forest in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, prompting the closure of State Route 140 and a Yosemite park entrance.

Fire managers have issued evacuation orders or advisories for the mountain communities of Jerseydale, Mariposa Pines, Clearing House and Incline.

Complicating firefighting efforts was an inversion layer of thick black smoke, visible for miles, that has prevented water-dropping aircraft from flying into narrow canyons.

That inversion layer, an atmospheric condition that prevents the warmer air and smoke from rising, was expected to partly clear on Wednesday evening as the storm approached, allowing aircraft to make runs at the fire, Egan said.

Firefighter Braden Varney was killed on Saturday when a bulldozer he was using to cut a fire break overturned, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Varney was the 10th U.S. wildland firefighter to die in the line of duty this year, according to National Interagency Fire Center data.

California has had its worst start to the fire season in a decade, with more than 220,421 acres (89,200 hectares) blackened and six major wildfires burning statewide as of Wednesday.

In Oregon, where the Substation Fire has burned since Tuesday, Governor Kate Brown declared an emergency, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for communities along the Deschutes River.

The risk of large wildfires is set to ease in much of the Southwest and Rocky Mountains because of expected summer rains, but remains high in California through October.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney)