The Popcorn Stand: Thank you firefighters

As the Executive Assistant Editor of the Sierra Nevada Media Group, Nevada Appeal Branch, Newsroom Division, I felt like I didn’t do my job Sunday even though it was my day off. Thank goodness Carson City firefighters did theirs.

As I walked out of church just after noon Sunday, I saw the smoke from the Shooting Fire on the backside of C Hill and thought “it’s not that big of a deal.”

I then took my dogs to Sonoma Park (an excellent place for dogs to roam I might add) and saw all the black on the backside of C Hill. I thought to myself “it’s still not that big of a deal.” If you really want to see just how much damage the fire did, the view provided by taking a drive on the street just south of Sonoma Park is striking.

When I woke up from my nap late Sunday afternoon and saw a television report of just how bad the fire was I thought “Oh wow, I hope we’ve got this covered.” Thank goodness the Carson City Fire Department had it covered.

I don’t think I’m being overly melodramatic by stating the Carson City Fire Department — along with assisting state, regional and federal agencies — saved this community from a terrible tragedy, not to mention the tremendous financial loss that would have happened. Under impossible conditions due to the terrain and the wind our fire department saved this community.

I can tell you this because as the Executive Assistant Editor of the Sierra Nevada Media Group, Nevada Appeal Branch, Newsroom Division, I can tell you I’ve heard some “off the record inside dope” on just how heroic our firefighters were — and the danger they faced.

Thank you Carson City Fire Department and the rest of the responding agencies.

— Charles Whisnand