Banner Rallies Support for Rim Fire Firefighters

Sept. 13--RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- When Debra Harvey's son Richard, an engineer for the Arcadia Fire Department, recently went out to help contain the Rim Fire at Yosemite National Park, a mother's worry gave way to resolve.

With the help of neighbors, Harvey created a large 8 feet by 2 foot banner. It's white, with the words Say a Prayer for Firefighters in Yosemite written large in black. The text is surrounded by dozens of messages from well-wishers in red.

The Banner is posted over the garage at her Comiso Way home.

"May all the firefighter parents be as proud as we are and may everybody be as thankful for you as we are, Love, mom and dad," read the message from Richard's parents.

"Richard and all of Arcadia Fire Department, thank you for all that you do, take care, and be safe," read another from neighbors Gil and Della Castro.

Gil Castro said the neighborhood is proud.

"We're just proud he made it to the fire department to begin with at all at such a young age," Castro said. "He was just an entry level firefighter and he became an engineer, so he's responsible for the entire rig. He's one of the youngest engineers."

Richard, who recently returned home with his crew, is an engineer on a fire truck manned by firefighters Chris Moore, paramedic Jon Ansell, and captain Code Cerwin. The crew was sent out to an area in Tuolumne County, a couple of miles away from the fire, from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30.

"The community took great care of us, and offered us food and shelter the entire time," he said.

Richard Harvey, who is taking classes to become a Captain one day, said he and his crew took the banner as a blessing.

"It's a long time away from home, with the risk of not coming back, so it's a warm feeling to have when your away from your family and people are thinking about you and keeping you in their thoughts," Harvey said.

Debra Harvey said there are about 35 messages on the banner. She said the project was the result of the support of the entire neighborhood.

"We really just wanted to say thank you to all the neighbors for signing this," she said. "We wouldn't have been able to put this up without everyone coming by and signing it, so having all the signatures made it all the more special for everybody. I hope the firefighters all appreciate it, and know they're in our thoughts and our prayers. We really thank them for all the hard work that they do, their dedication and hope they come home safe."

Copyright 2013 - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif.