Vicky Minor is a major help to firefighters. She is an Idaho resident who founded the Wildland Firefighters Foundation, which supports firefighters in need.

“It’s our job to take care of each other,” said Minor.”The government system is so taxed, they don’t have time to clean up injured firefighters and fatalities.”

Since Minor started work with the foundation in 1999, it has given out $1.5 million in monetary aid and assisted 212 families of fallen firefighters.

“I think people want to help, and they don’t know how,” Minor said.”This is an opportunity for them. It’s the one thing they can do for the firefighters.”

Firefighters often sustain lung damage due to smoke and are prone to brain tumors and lung cancer. Minor explains that there are no benefits that cover fire fighters for these complications.

Says Minor:

“I have been helping with wildland firefighters since the mid ’80s. I’ve seen sheets flying off porches everywhere, which say ‘Thank You Firefighters.’ I always say that’s so nice. My own son’s home burned down in Alaska, and the floor fell down on my grandkid’s bed and if the dogs hadn’t kept waking everyone up they would not be alive.The dogs were left inside the house, and when the firefighters rescued the dogs I started to cry.”

Sometimes we assume that the government is there to help our firemen and civil servants but often agencies are overworked and understaffed. Minor takes matters into her own hands and helps the heroes of our land. What ways can you contribute to the people who tirelessly tend to your community?

Send us your hero of the year!