PBCC Caring for LA Fire Heroes

An Australian member of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has described her “incredible” experience volunteering with the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) US, serving thousands of meals to firefighters working around the clock against the Los Angeles wildfires.

Jessica Wyman, who moved to Ohio from Tamworth in 2011, was one of hundreds of RRT volunteers who travelled from interstate to California to be part of the response to the crisis.

Outside of LA, RRT volunteers came from Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC, as well as from Toronto and Woodstock, Canada.

The RRT has cooked up 7,000 meals to firefighters and other emergency workers during the LA fire crisis, as well as distributing almost 700 meal packs to the frontline.

Jessica said she could not believe the intensity of the fires, or the enormity of the firefighting response.

“Coming off the front lines, it was incredible to witness the hungry firefighters, covered in sweat and soot, selflessly pushing forward,” she said.

“As RRT members, we felt a deep sense of duty to do everything we could to ensure they were well-fed and cared for. They are undertaking something extraordinary and beyond what most of us can truly comprehend.

“Providing this support is the very least we can do for their incredible efforts.”

As the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, RRT supports frontline workers and emergency services by providing food, donations and other resources, as well as hosting events for the community.

Established in 2013 to assist emergency services in times of disaster and crisis by providing meals and other support, it’s expanded to more than 14,500 volunteers and provides support to the community through charitable donations and events. For more information on RRT, please go to //www.rrtglobal.org/