By Jason Pesick
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
FAWNSKIN, Calif. — In fire-prone mountain towns, fire agencies are not the only ones who know what they’re supposed to do in case of a fire.
For the past four decades, Barbara Aker, 68, has fed firefighters at the Gold Tan Coffee Shop and Nugget Room.
“If anything goes wrong here, we stay,” said Shaleigh Shanahan, 20, Aker’s granddaughter and restaurant manager.
Even though Fawnskin was under mandatory evacuation Sunday, Aker kept the restaurant open to feed firefighters.
Most of the locals had left.
With the fire nearing Fawnskin, Aker waited for it to get a little closer before leaving.
“This one is closer than any we’ve ever had,” she said.
This year, they fed about 100 to 150 firefighters sandwiches during the day and coffee all night.
Thanks to a donation from Fawnskin resident Terry Russell, they had been able to serve more food than they were able to during the 2003 Old Fire.
Aker lives upstairs at the restaurant, so she wants to stay as long as possible, Shanahan said.
“My grandma has had this since ’69. She wasn’t about to just leave quick,” said Shanahan.
Across the street, Ayman Nakoud, 31, who owns the Fawnskin Market, donated sandwiches, water and ice to firefighters.
Nakoud, who has only been in Fawnskin three months, said he would evacuate when the smoke closes in.
“They take care of us,” he said of the firefighters. “The money is nothing.”
San Bernardino County fire Capt. Jody Brum of Arrowhead Station 92 said firefighters appreciate it when locals support them.
“I just think the firemen are all doing a great job,” Aker said.
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