Guy Fieri, volunteers serve thousands of meals to crews fighting California’s Dixie Fire
By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LASSEN COUNTY, Calif. — He may not be a firefighter, but Food Network star Guy Fieri came to the rescue in his own way for hungry first responders battling a massive California blaze.
According to The Press Democrat and KTVU, the celebrity chef and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” host, along with local TV anchor Sal Castaneda and about two dozen other volunteers, served thousands of meals to emergency crews this week at the Dixie Fire base camp at the Lassen County Fairgrounds. They also sent food to deputies and state troopers blocking roads, Fieri said.
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville Flames consume a home on Highway 89 as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville Flames from the Dixie Fire spread through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville A utility pole burns as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville Flames consume a home on Highway 89 as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville Battalion Chief Sergio Mora watches as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville Battalion Chief Sergio Mora rubs his face as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville A bench stands outside a scorched building as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville Flames leap from trees as the Dixie Fire jumps Highway 89 north of Greenville in Plumas County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Dry and windy conditions have led to increased fire activity as firefighters battle the blaze which ignited July 14. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville A firefighter battles the Dixie Fire as it tears through the Greenville community in Plumas County, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photos: California's Dixie Fire engulfs Greenville Operations Chief Jay Walter passes the historic Sierra Lodge as the Dixie Fire burns through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
“We’ve got a great group of people,” Fieri, 53, told KTVU of the volunteers, who joined him at the camp on Tuesday and Wednesday. “We have folks from all different walks of life – you name it.”
On Tuesday alone, the group prepared enough pulled pork, coleslaw and macaroni and cheese for 2,200 meals, the news outlets reported.
Crews fighting the 735,000-acre wildfire took to social media to thank Fieri for his efforts.
“Celebrity chef Guy Fieri is no stranger to cooking for crowds during a wildfire,” Murrieta Fire & Rescue wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. “He is cooking up over 1,000 pounds of pulled pork sandwiches for first responders battling the Dixie Fire. He even took time for a photo op with Battalion Chief Mike Ramos! #thankyouguyfieri #DixieFire.”
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office echoed the sentiment.
“A big thank you to Guy Fieri and his foundation for coming up to support our community,” the department wrote Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the San Jose Fire Department also praised Fieri on Twitter.
“Big thanks to @GuyFieri for providing meals to crews at the #DixieFire base camp today,” the tweet read.
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California An American flag rests on rubble of the Greenville Fire Department destroyed by the Dixie Fire on August 9, 2021, in Greenville, California.The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (David Odisho/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California An American flag posted on a fence in front of a destroyed structure caused by the Dixie Fire on August 9, 2021, situated along Highway 89 near Greenville, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (David Odisho/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California Rows of charred trees caused by the Dixie Fire situated along the side of Highway 89 on August 9, 2021, near Indian Falls, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (David Odisho/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California A woman who identified herself only as Pam evacuated from Greenville, California and is now living in her boyfriend's trailer August 9, 2021, in Crescent Mills, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (Maranie R. Staab/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California A woman who Identied herself only as Pam points up at where the Dixie Fire is burning on August 9, 2021, near Crescent Mills, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (Maranie R. Staab/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California A firefighter carries an ax to use in felling trees on August 9, 2021, near Westwood, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (Maranie R. Staab/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California Firefighters from Huntington Beach talk about the days plans on August 9, 2021, near Westwood, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (Maranie R. Staab/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California Firefighters from Huntington Beach survey a mountainside before extinguishing a small blaze on August 9, 2021, near Westwood, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (Maranie R. Staab/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California Two partially burned chairs sit among destroyed structures caused by the Dixie Fire on August 9, 2021, near Highway 89 in Indian Falls, California.The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (David Odisho/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California A burned vehicle sits among destroyed structures caused by the Dixie Fire on August 9, 2021, situated near Highway 89 in Indian Falls, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (David Odisho/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California A burned vehicle sits among destroyed structures caused by the Dixie Fire on August 9, 2021, near Highway 89 in Indian Falls, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (David Odisho/Getty Images)
Photos: Dixie Fire continues to ravage northeastern California A partially melted children's toy pony sits among destroyed structures caused by the Dixie Fire on August 9, 2021, near Highway 89 in Indian Falls, California. The Dixie Fire, which has incinerated nearly 500,000 acres, is the second-largest recorded wildfire in state history and remains only 21 percent contained. (David Odisho/Getty Images)