Inspired by the devastating fire season of 1994, founder Vicki Minor decided that after the loss of 14 courageous firefighters on the South Canyon fire in Colorado, she would start a campaign to raise money for the families of those who died. A memorial t-shirt was created, produced, and sold across the nation. At the end of this successful fundraiser, Vicki sent all the money she had raised to a foundation on the East Coast for distribution to the families. Two years later, she found out that NOT ONE of those families received any of the money that she worked so hard to raise for them. Out of frustration over the situation and not wanting this to happen to anyone else ever again, she created the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.
Vicki’s main focus at that time was to be able to provide financial support to the families of those who died or were injured in the line of duty while fighting wildland fires. Her vision of helping the injured and the families of the fallen was and still is her calling.
On average, 17 wildland firefighters die every year while protecting our homes, our communities, and our great outdoors. The Wildland Firefighter Foundation truly came up from the ashes of fire, dirt, and tragedy. We are primarily supported by firefighters for firefighters. There are no agency or jurisdictional boundaries. Through the darkness of death and injury, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation exists not only because of Vicki’s tenacity but also because of you, the boots on the ground.
May your compassion continue to spread like wildfire.
