FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2019
PRESS CONTACT: Karl Terry (575) 356-8541 chamber@portales.com
Community thank you planned for 267 Fire responders.
A community event honoring those who answered the call when the 267 Fire erupted west of Portales in early April is being planned for Thursday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. at City Park in Portales.
Sodexo will serve hot dogs along with soft drinks from Pepsi, ice cream from DFA and cookies from Farmer’s Country Market, said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry. A brief program thanking the heroes as well as a blessing for the responders and victims of the fire will be included.
“Our board considered naming these responders as our Volunteers of the Month for May,” said Terry. “That didn’t seem adequate to express the community’s thanks and appreciation. We felt sure our community would step up in a bigger way if we asked and in short order we had the food and grill donated to throw a picnic.”
The fire broke out in grassland just west of the City of Portales shortly after noon on April 10. With winds gusting upwards of 70 mph the fire was very dangerous. Portales Fire Chief Gary Nuckols said in his 25 years of firefighting the fire ranked among the top three most dangerous wildfires he had seen in terms of fire behavior.
Before it was over, four homes had been destroyed and two individuals, including a firefighter, were injured because of the blaze. The fire consumed close to 3,000 acres and was stopped just short of a subdivision with numerous homes.
Terry says everyone is welcome to come out and say thanks and hug a firefighter.
“First responders will be served first and then we’ll serve the community as long as the food lasts,” said Terry.
