Feeding firefighters among challenges of responding to 403 Fire near Park/Teller County line

FLORISSANT, Colo. (KRDO) -- Authorities, organizations and volunteers have scrambled to provide enough meals, drinks, snacks and other necessities for first responders as a wildfire burns for a second straight day.

Organizers brought in pizza Thursday evening, just hours after the fire began, and followed that with cooking 200 burritos for breakfast Friday morning at the Florissant Fire Station.

A local ranch provided 400 meals for dinner Friday, and donations of water, sport drinks and snacks also are available; some of the food and drink is being taken to firefighters on the front line of the blaze.

Two food trucks parked at the fire station served free hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches.

"We were coming back from an event in Ellicott when we heard about the fire," said Justin and Rachel Laufer, who live in Woodland Park and have operated their grilled cheese business for almost a year. "We wanted to help because we have relatives who are first responders, so we know what it's like. They asked us to be ready to provide 200 sandwiches and me ended up making 150."

Donations have included eye wash, eye drops cough drops and other items.

Organizers said that they expect to continue providing meals through Tuesday, at the earliest.

The Florissant and Lake George areas have experienced wildfires in 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2002 but the 403 fire this week represents the first experience in food logistics for many volunteers.

"And it is my first rodeo, so..." confessed Starla Thompson, of the Florissant Fire Corps. "But I'm a volunteer and a servant at heart, so I like raising my hand and pulling together resources to accommodate the community."

Organizers said that the community effort to feed firefighters likely will be needed through early next week.