While the mandatory evacuations in South Lake Tahoe approaches, Frescana Mexican Bistro owners in Meyers have been occupied in preparing hundreds of burritos they willingly provide for the emergency personnel working to stop the Caldor Fire.
This food donation, packed along with sandwiches and coffee, became the way of owners Time and Kristi Cain to help the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, fire responders and local agencies since late last week, as first reported by ABC10.
They became busy for the remaining times until the bistro operations stopped for Monday’s evacuation.
“We got the notification that our utilities would be turned off and we evacuated Monday afternoon,” said Kristi Cain.
The owners already braced themselves for a rushed exit considering their area. Leaving, however, was not as simple as it seems.
“We wanted to stay and support everyone,” said Tim Cain. “They still need food and stuff like that. Those were the concern when we left and our son being up there makes it a little bit harder to leave.”
For the last two weeks, Tim and Kristi’s son named Mason was among the crew battling the Caldor Fire. As a member of the Zephyr Fire Crew under the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, the Caldor Fire became Mason’s first fire assignment.
Cain’s bistro was only among the multiple establishments that are willing to offer help as the wildfire rages the area. Apart from them, a non-profit based in Nevada, called FISH, is also giving meals to wildfire-affected individuals in Carson City, Nevada. Cold Water Brewery in South Lake Tahoe was also one with the movement. Its owner Debbie Brown shared to SFGATE that giving the fire crews the food they need is her way for her to help her town.
“Unfortunately, when we went from warning to mandatory evacuation, we no longer could continue to feed the EOS of South Lake and had to pack up and leave,” Brown said. “Cold Water Brewery was built on the love of her community, so we always make sure we give back. I’m waiting in the distance to be able to go back and see what we can do to help, but for now we must sit on the sidelines, pray, and wait for the opportunity to serve our community again.”
According to Cal Fire, Caldor Fire has already spread to 204, 390 acres as of Wednesday morning, with the containment at 20%.