Hello fellow firefighters,

I am a first responder from San Francisco, my sons father abandoned him at birth. I ask the community of brotherhood to rally around him.

I have a story of bravery and courage..
I think we have a little firefighter building in my son, he is 11yo.

9-1-08 labor day, our summer ranch had a wild fire in surrounding area.
KCRA channel3 Sacramento news.


At 2:05pm I seen the smoke about 5 miles from my summer ranch, my first thought was of friends that had a horse ranch with 25 horses. I watched the fire for a few moments and pondered.
I decided to help never thinking it would make to my home, but I notified my family and gave them the orders to prepare the home and be ready to evacuate.

While I was away tending to the community needs, my son was at home with my mother, I am a proud mommy today.

He hit the parameter of the house with water, watched all the aircraft, trucks come from all over California, got our animals prepared, he did all of this without me, just from the drills I held on prepardness at home,

my mom said he did all of this without panic and took charge of his ranch.

when the time came at 5:30pm my mother and him evacuted safely out of our home with our animals safe. The fire was contained less than 1/4 miles from our ranch.

I never thought that the fire would travel that far but of course the winds change and the direction was towards him, I thought it would be different and I would be more panicky but it was like any other call to duty.

I am so proud of my son for his courage that day because if you all knew my son well lets just say, he is a total mamas boy,
he showed a side to himself that I didn't know was there, I guess he's growing up.

With all that said I am looking to all of you to help in making this a keepsake moment for him,
if any of you have the time to give him a few words for his courage you can send it to mypage,

for that day of bravery he displayed I would be forever grateful.

If any of you have time to collect a item from your station and mail it to him, I will pay for postage.
Just let me know and I will message you with my address.

My friends in San Francisco are sending Local 793.

My hope is to keep in him that courage that he found that day and maybe we might have a little firefighter in the future...

But really maybe with this he can see how we all pull together and care when things like this happen.

This is the good stuff thats happens with this field of work.

With this being National Preparness month I appreciate all of your support in this matter.

Thanks to all of you for your support in my sons bravery on his day of COURAGE...

Be safe,
Marnie Mendoza
Emergency Medical Technician -1