People across the nation are expressing their gratitude for the firefighters in Southern California after an emotional photograph of the exhausted and hardworking heroes resurfaced on the Internet in light of theWoolsey and Hill fires.
In the remarkable shot, firefighters are seen lying on their equipment, bags and each other as they sleep on the grass outside after tirelessly working several 24-hour shifts.
However, after the recent wildfires viciously burned through Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Newbury Park — displacing thousands of people from their homes — the photograph has now returned and many are using it as a visual aid to express gratitude and support for the hardworking first responders.
Kern County Fire Department
Dancing with the StarsproVal Chmerkovskiyand actorKevin Hartboth shared the image on their Instagram accounts recently and wrote touching tributes to the firefighters.
John Sciulli/Getty
“An image is worth a thousand words,” Chmerkovskiy, 32,began his post on Sunday. “I’ll add a few of my own. As our beautiful state burns there are the ones that are fleeing and those that are going towards the fire, literally. These brave men and women, are truly heroes.”
As for Hart, heshared the photoon his Instagram and thanked the first responders for “putting their lives on the line” to stop the massive wildfires.
CBS
“You men & women are true heroes & me and my family thank you,” the actor, 39, wrote. “My heart & prayers go out to all families in the affected areas….This is honestly Unbelievable what we are witnessing at this very moment. God have mercy on us all.”
Also adding to the firefighter appreciation posts was Maria Shriver, who shared her ownmulti-photo tributeon Instagram.
“They are still fighting. While we sleep they work, they keep on,” the journalist, 63, wrote alongside the photos. “We owe our safety to them and our hopes are with them. Thank you to California’s best!”
Jeff Vespa/Getty
The twowildfires currently burning through Southern California,dubbed the Woolsey Fire and Hill Fire, have forcedthousands of people in the area to flee their homesfor safety, including many high-profile celebrities.
As of Monday morning, the Woolsey Fire had covered 91,572 acres and was only 20 percent contained. The Hill Fire, on the other hand, had spread over 10,000 acres in the Newbury Park area — just blocks away fromthe Thousand Oaks bar where 12 people were killed in a mass shootinglast Wednesday.
David McNew/Getty
Other stars affected includeAlyssa Milano, Rainn Wilson, and Eddie McClintock; the Kardashians were also in harm’s way.
Last week,Kim Kardashian Westtold her fans that she had just flown back to her Hidden Hills property when she found out that Calabasas was under threat from the Woolsey Fire — and she only had one hour “to pack up and evacuate our home.”
Matthew Simmons/Getty Images
Kourtney Kardashianfled for safety too, while siblingsKhloé KardashianandRob Kardashianhunkered down together with their respective daughters,True Thompson, 6 months, andDream Kardashian, who turns 2 on Saturday.
In addition to the two wildfires burning in Southern California, an intense brush fire broke out in Northern California, causing thousands to evacuate, according toThe Weather Channel. It’s being called the “Camp Fire.”
On Monday, The Butte County Sheriff’s Officesaid on Twitterthat 29 people have died from the northern wildfires.
source: people.com
