Volunteers wash firefighters’ clothes as ‘thank you’

Before firefighters head to battle the wildfires, they drop off their clothes, where volunteers wash, dry and fold them

November 21, 2016 02:53 PM

Assistant Chief Brent Masey, of the Highway 58 Fire Department in Harrison, Tenn., looks up as a helicopter carrying fire retardant flies over as Masey keeps watch on a wildfire Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.

By FireRescue1 Staff

SODDY DAISY, Tenn. — While firefighters were out battling three major wildfires, members of community express their gratitude by also doing something: their laundry.

Since last week, members of a local church began to donate their time and funds to wash the fire crews’ laundry in a trailer normally used during disasters.

“We wanted to do what we could and that was available to us,” Joe Caldwell, a pastor at the church, said. “We knew we had it and we just knew we could utilize it for them.”

Before firefighters head to battle the wildfires, they drop off their clothes, where volunteers wash, dry and fold them, reported WRCB. The trailer is near the fire command center. Members of the community have also donated food, supplies and beverages.

The trailer contains three washers, three dryers, as well as a variety of detergents and soaps, reported NewsChannel9.

“Who doesn’t like clean clothes when you’ve been working so hard. We are so grateful for that resource,” Julie Allen, a Florida Forest Service official said.