By Guy McCarthy
San Bernardino County Sun (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
REDLANDS, Calif. — Local rock station KCAL-FM (96.7) teamed with firefighters and fire academy cadets Friday to raise more than $13,000 for families of five firefighters killed in the Esperanza Fire.
“We just want to give people a chance to show their appreciation for what those guys did,” said 20-year-old Jeff Snellings of San Bernardino, who is 10 weeks into academy training at Crafton Hills College. “These people dedicated their lives to their communities.”
Snellings and about 25 other cadets and firefighters brought spare boots to solicit cash donations from motorists on Orange Tree Lane and California Street in west Redlands.
With KCAL personality Syeda Jafri amping the fundraiser on the airwaves, cadets and firefighters collected more than $2,100 in the first hour.
“This one hit really close to home,” said KCAL program director Steve Hoffman. “Some of the firefighters who died listened to this station. About a third of our DJs said they’d had calls from Engine 57 families. All we’re trying to do is give back for what these guys sacrificed.”
The firefighters of Engine 57 who perished were Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild; Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont; Jason McKay, 27, of Phelan; Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto; and Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley.
was overcome by flames Oct. 26 as the men tried to protect a home on Gorgonio View Road in Twin Pines.
Death benefits and life insurance may help offset funeral expenses and initial losses of income for families of fallen firefighters, said Matt V. Payne, a Rialto firefighter who helped organize the fundraiser.
“But you’re talking about families where the main breadwinner is gone,” Payne said. “My wife and I have two small children. I can’t imagine what would happen to them if I didn’t come home from work one day.”
Jafri, who is also a spokeswoman for Rialto Unified School District, said the fundraiser stemmed in part from listeners’ feedback.
“People were calling and wanting to know how they could help,” Jafri said. “This is the least we can do. We don’t have a goal, but we hope to raise as much as we can for these families.”