As we remember Hurricane Katrina taking place 15 years ago this weekend, we remember how the Vista Fire Department responded both down south in the devastated areas ravaged by the storm and back home here in the Vista Fire District as we sent six Firefighters to the area devastated by the storm to help those recover through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response plan.

The six Vista Firefighters that answered the call were Ex-Chief Gary Lawson, Firefighter Sean Kelly, former Vista Firefighter Dan Cruz, former Vista Firefighter Jerry Miller, former Vista Firefighter Tom Miller and former Vista Firefighter Chris Cruz. The Vista FD crew spent roughly 25 days in several areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina as they helped families get back on their feet and receive the necessary assistance from FEMA.

While the Vista Fire Department crew was helping response efforts down south, back at home the VFD held a "boot drive" on Saturday, September 3rd, 2005 and helped raise over $10,000 which was donated to the Westchester County branch of the American Red Cross.

Despite all of our members being volunteers, we are proud of the fact that the Vista Fire Department prides itself in helping those in need not only in the Vista Fire District, but across the United States as well.