T-shirt fundraiser nets $2,500 for firefighter foundation

During his first 21-day stint working on the North Complex Fire, Operations Section Chief Jake Cagle drew quite a following while doing his twice daily fire briefings, and a local duo turned that popularity into a fundraising opportunity for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.

Quincy resident and Registered Nurse Ashley Blesse, who worked with Cagle and his CA Interagency Incident Management Team 4, came up with the idea of making a T-shirt in his honor and enlisted the help of Rebecca McAllister, from Mountain Graphic Design.

“We have concluded the fundraiser and I am so excited to announce that we raised $2,500 for the foundation,” said Blesse. “Hundreds of shirts were sold locally, as well as online. I shipped shirts all over the United States, and as far as Australia!”

Blesse and McAllister presented the check to Cagle today, Oct. 13. At his request, the donation was made in memory of Charles Morton, from the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew, who lost his life on Sept. 17 while battling the El Dorado Fire.

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation helps firefighters and their families who may suffer a loss or injury while battling fires.