Local News

Military Veterans Treat Local Fire Department to BBQ in Pateros

Aug 08, 2014

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A group of military veterans and first responders in Pateros held a barbecue on August 7th for the District 15 Volunteer Fire Department, who have been assisting in fighting the fires that have ravaged Okanogan County.

The group, known as Team Rubicon, has been managing the disaster relief efforts in Pateros, Wash. since the 22nd of July. The Carlton Complex fire, which began July 14th, has destroyed more than 350 homes and engulfed 250,000 acres in north-central Washington.

“We have been battling flare-ups for a couple of weeks now,” said Bill Vallance, District 15 Fire Chief.

Indeed, not 6 hours after the barbeque ended, the District 15 Volunteer Fire Department responded to an early morning rekindled fire in town.

“The fire department here has been going nonstop since this all began,” said Bob Obernier, the Incident Commander for Team Rubicon and the City of Pateros. “To see their dedication to not only fighting fire, but also to community involvement is astonishing. Being able to provide this small token of appreciation is the least we can do.” Bob is a retired battalion fire chief from Tallahassee, Florida and US Navy veteran.

The supplies for the barbecue were generously donated by Allen Evans at the Walmart location in Chelan, Wash.

The City of Pateros has tasked Team Rubicon to manage the city’s relief and recovery response to the fire. Team Rubicon has deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team and is responsible for debris removal, volunteer management, in-kind donations, cost accountability, and public information.

Pateros plans to shift focus from disaster relief to long-term recovery over the next two weeks. Events such as the barbecue and the rescheduled Apple Pie Jamboree this weekend serve as strong evidence that the community will recover.

Team Rubicon is a disaster relief group that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders. Their role is to help bridge the gap between the disaster and the recovery process. Team Rubicon is a nonprofit that performs its services at no cost to those affected. TR does not receive federal funding, and relies solely on the generosity of donors.

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