Across the Western United States, but in California especially, firefighters have been working around the clock to help save homes and communities. And while we’ve sometimes gotten pushback that when we portray the folks who are just doing their jobs as heroes–these brave men and women make the difference between life and death. In California, firefighters are taxed to the limit as fires around the state have burned more than 350,000 acres. They’re working double shifts waiting for backup to arrive and have given their lives to keep people safe.

I (Miro) am in Northern California with my family this summer and can see helicopters and crews throughout the Sonoma Valley rushing to extinguish the fires burning on all sides of our valley. I want to give a special thanks to our local Shell Vista Fire Station for their backbreaking work to protect our community as well as our neighboring counties.

I still recall in the 2017 fires that almost claimed our home, the Oakland FD were the ones to save it. Men and women who didn’t care about our political convictions, background, nationality, etc., selflessly rushed in to protect our neighborhood. I’ll always be grateful to these heroes and the reminder that at the end of the day, we’re all people with the same fears and hopes for our lives. There’s more that unites us than divides us.

How to Help: Please consider a donation to the California Fire Foundation which provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect.