Help Wild-land Firefighter, Jon, and His Firefighting Truck

Friends!

Fellow Oregonians!

Our friend, a Wild land Firefighter, and his truck (a 2010 Ford F-550 4x4 with a type 6 fire package) for knocking down wildfires and protecting structures, need our help!

Just as he was headed out to fight his first big fire of the season his truck experienced major mechanical failure. Costs for repair came to $18,468 that he pulled all funds he had from his savings, retirement and life insurance to pay it off, plus a HELOC loan.

He thought he could finally get back on the fire lines, protecting us, and begin the battle back to break even again when the unthinkable happened:

He was told there were yet more repairs that had to be done before his truck would clear inspection so he could return to work!

Jon is a strong and independent man, who's reluctant to accept help even when he needs it. He has done everything he could think of to deal with this alone.

And he has, reluctantly, agreed to let us ask you to give him a hand to pull him up out of this financial pit so he can return to work.

The truck still needs a new instrument cluster and headlight pod at $3000. He has already paid for a new engine plus parts and labor at $13,130. And add to all of that new rear brakes and rotors and odometer repair, plus oil and filters change, the total comes to a great big $18,468! And that doesn't provide anything to fill his has tank or lunch pail so he can start working.

Jon had this to say:

"Well, now I have to put new brakes and rotors on as well as fixing the dash before it'll pass inspection and be allowed on fire so I can start recouping a little bit. I thought I could handle it but now I'm completely tapped out. I just hate asking for help. If nothing pans out, no worries, we'll manage as we always do, but thank you for your concern for us, we really appreciate everything our friends do. "

We are asking for donations toward a total of $20,000 to put Jon and his truck back to work, so they can defend us and our forests and our homes from these fires, and so Jon can focus on safety and firefighting and not worry about where his gas, lunch, loan repayment, and retirement are going to come from.

Will you please give? And maybe send him a note of encouragement to remind him that even Strong Independent men need a hand up sometimes.