Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors Rally

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A 1902 horse-drawn California State Firefighters' Association (CSFA) Steamer led the Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors group into Rancho Cucamonga, California during the Inland Empire leg of the 14th Annual Firefighters Quest Rally. On the first day of the rally, the Steamer was part of one of 3 legs running concurrently. The other 2 legs were making their way through the High Desert and mountain communities, as well as the Riverside area. The rally ran for a total of four days and included 110 stops in seven different counties throughout Southern and Central California.

In one week the Firefighters Quest Rally traveled about 1,000 miles. At each stop, the group met with firefighters and businesses and picked up donation checks from fundraisers held for Firefighters Quest over the past year. The Rally's second stop was at a military base fire department,  the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) Fire Department. They have been working with Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors for the past 8 years. "Throughout the year we do "FIll the Boot" and then we donate all of our proceeds [to the Firefighter's Quest for Burn Surivors.] Throughout the post we have people come by for lunch and we donate that as well," says Anthony Morganti, Captain for the Los Alamitos JFTB Fire Department.

Along with firefighters and volunteers, burn survivors like Carlos Frontela Jr., who was burned in a house fire in 1985, are able to help Firefighters Quest. Frontela states, "I go to meetings and sometimes I share my story as well as try to share my experiences, the ups and downs of being a survivor and getting through each day." For the last 6 years Carlos has also joined the rally. He remarks, "I am getting as much as I can out of it and enjoying the day."

The Firefighters Quest Rally also gets an incredible amount of help from sponsors. One sponsor, Mercy Air, helps them travel to the places that would otherwise be difficult to reach. Bill Buehler, Inland Empire Area Coordinator for the Firefighter's Quest Rally claims, "Mercy Air has been great to us from the beginning. [They] do all of our transportation in the mountains and to Catalina." They also could not do the run without the help that they receive from the California Highway Patrol. Bill Buehler states, "They cut traffic, they make sure that we make it from one stop to the other safely. So at any time they'll be 10 to 12 CHP officers helping us."

Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors began 15 years ago when five firefighters were burned in the Malibu Fire. As firefighters visited the burn center, they saw a need. According to Buehler, they  "saw all of these other burn survivors and they didn't have anybody to come in and help them and talk to them." He says this is why they started the organization. As a support group, they also help families of burn victims. The Firefighters Quest group actually helps the families find places to stay and supports them while their child or loved one is in the hospital.

Burn survivor Carlos Frontela expresses how Firefighters Quest has helped him when he says, "To put new light in situations where before there was none and that life isn't over because you're a burn survivor. Life goes on and you can have fun."

This year's event raised approximately $130,000. Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors is made up completely of volunteers, therefore, 100% of the money raised goes to local burn centers and foundations as well as burn survivors and their families.   For more information about the organization visit www.firefightersquest.org.



Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com