GLENDALE : Giving Firefighters a Big Note of Gratitude

Four members of Glendale Fire Engine Company 21 received unexpected gifts.

Each got a $1,000 check in the mail, sent by a homeowner to thank the firefighters for saving the resident’s house during the Oct. 27 Altadena blaze. A note inside read: “The enclosed check is not enough to represent our true debt, but we hope it will say a very strong thank you.”

“We were kind of stunned to see that,” said Glendale Fire Capt. Bill Bailey, who heads Engine Company 21. “(I) never had that happen before.”

“People will sometimes bake cookies and bring them by the station or bake a pie, but sending $1,000 is unprecedented in our job here.”

Because department policy forbids firefighters to accept money gifts, city officials will donate the $4,000 to the Sherman Oaks Community Hospital Burn Center, which treats burned firefighters. Fire officials have also declined to identify the grateful homeowner, who requested anonymity.

A special presentation will be made to burn center staff during Tuesday’s Glendale City Council meeting.

“There’s absolutely no question that it will be put to good use,” said Johna Rogovin, hospital spokeswoman. “It will certainly benefit our patients and their families.”

The resident’s home was one of two houses at an intersection that Bailey’s crew had been assigned to protect Oct. 27, recalled Bailey. If those homes had caught fire, the blaze could have spread throughout the neighborhood.

As flames moved closer, residents evacuated--leaving Bailey, Engineer Dave McMullin and Firefighters Greg Godfrey and Kevin LaSota to battle the fire for 2 1/2 hours with only two water hoses, he said. Flames ended up burning only the homes’ surrounding brush.

“I don’t think (the family) ever anticipated seeing their house again,” Bailey said. “We did the best we could with the conditions we had and fortunately, we were able to put enough water on the house.”

In the future, those wishing to show their gratitude to firefighters should just pay them a visit, he said.

“That’s all the firefighters are looking for,” Bailey said. “We’re all professionals. We don’t expect to get anything extra for the work we do.”