Firefighter motivated by community’s appreciation

The thank you signs, posted throughout the community, motivate firefighter Robert Holmes to continue to work hard on the Canyon Creek Complex fire.

But there other motivators, too.

“What stands out the most for me are the simple things, like the first few days we were here, our apparatus was parked on the street and coming out to go to work and finding notes and goodies left on the seats. That means so much to the crews.”

Holmes, who works for the Lane Fire Authority headquartered in Veneta, was working on the Warm Springs fire when he and the rest of his crew were transferred to the Canyon Creek Complex fire Saturday, Aug. 15.

He is one of 939 fire personnel working the fire.

“We have been working in the south division of the fire since we arrived,” he said. “We’ve kind of been all over in the areas south of Canyon City. This fire is definitely high on my personal list. The last fire that came close was when I was on the Douglas complex a couple years ago.”

Ever since the fire started Aug. 12, the community has been showing its appreciation.

Handmade thank you signs for the firefighters are scattered throughout John Day and Canyon City on fences, telephone poles and anywhere else staples or tape will stick.

Some offer messages of thanks; others display kids’ handprints, drawings and motivational messages like, “Kick Ash.”

Most of the crews hail far away from Grant County. Wildland and structural fire crews drove through the night to get here to hit the fire lines.

Holmes is part of a Lane County task force that includes agencies from all around the Eugene area.

“I’ve been with them for 22 years, 19 as a volunteer until I was hired on in 2012,” Holmes said.

He and the rest of his crew of 14 guys head to the Grant County Fairgrounds, where they live in tents after they come off their 12-hour shift from the fire.

The Eagle tracked Holmes down via Facebook after seeing the appreciation message he posted to the community’s Canyon Creek Complex fire Facebook page.

“As far as what I’ve seen from the community, it started with the signs. The thank you signs coming back into camp are a huge motivation for the crews,” Holmes said.

Everyone appreciates the support, he added.

“I know people have commented on ‘how thank you isn’t enough.’ Well, I can tell you what people call a simple ‘thank you’ is an incredible thing for crews.

“We can’t say thank you enough to this community for their support. It’s been absolutely amazing.”