Buying and selling tee-shirts that commemorate large fires has become part of the firefighting culture, and California's King Fire is no exception.
As the wildfire - stretched across more than 92,000 mostly timbered acres between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe - expands, vendors have set up shop near the Incident Command Center just outside the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. The merchants are selling King Fire memorabilia to both locals and the firefighters who have been going in and out of the fire camp.
The tee-shirts come in all colors and sizes, bearing the name of the King Fire that has been raging for more than a week.
More than 7,900 fire-fighting personnel are trying to limit the fire's destruction. It's 38% contained, and officials have started to lift some evacuation orders. But it's still growing, increasing by about 3,000 acres from Tuesday to Wednesday.
The fire is also becoming more damaging. It destroyed 12 residences and 56 outbuildings, according to Cal Fire. One firefighter, one of 955 inmates working on the fire, has been injured.
Firefighters are working 24 hour shifts on the fire, which has drawn firefighters from all over state and also other parts of the country.
The businesses selling tee-shirts that commemorate the wildfire are private vendors hoping to make a profit.
'They have no affiliation with any of the organizations or departments helping to manage this fire,' Cal Fire's Chris Christopherson said.
None of the vendors News10 approached would talk on the record. But there are some that donate a portion of their profits to local fire agencies. That's compelled some survivors to buy a tee-shirt.
'I really want to give back to the people that have saved my house,' said Elizabeth Turner. She was evacuated from her home last week and is still waiting to return.
Turner decided to buy a shirt from the California Fire Shirts stand after she learned they donate some of their funds.
'This Friday at work, I'll be wearing my tee-shirt to show my support for the fire fighters,' Turner said.
While many locals have bought the memorabilia, the majority of customers buying the shirts are firefighters.
'We're gone a long time from our families and especially when we have small children, they don't always understand why we're gone,' Christopherson said. 'But it's always neat for them to bring home a little memento of the time we've been gone and they could put a t-shirt on and remember what dad or mom has done in the community.'
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Posted by Unknown on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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