Coors Banquet fundraiser again benefits Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Written by

As the temperatures rise this summer in the West, so does area’s risk for wildfires. Each year, wildland firefighters risk their lives to battle blazes and keep communities safe. The Coors Banquet Protect Our West (POW) campaign again supports these firefighting teams by donating funds.

For the last several years, Coors Banquet has sponsored the Protect Our West campaign and donated a portion from the sale of each case or case equivalent of beer, in draft, bottles or cans through. These donations benefit the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a group that helps injured firefighters and families of fallen firefighters.

Do your part and donate to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Based in Boise, Idaho, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation provides support in many ways, including covering travel costs to bring family members to an injured firefighter’s bedside, or helping to replace wages lost during a firefighter’s medical leave.

Unlike other natural disasters, wildfires are frequently caused by people. While lighting strikes can also cause wildfires, many are still caused by human error. We can also help support our wildland firefighters by doing our part to help prevent wildfires.

The National Geographic magazine offers a list of fire safety tips in a recent article. These include never leaving a fire unattended, but instead dousing a fire with water and stirring the ashes before going to sleep or leaving the campsite. The article also advises caution with lanterns, stoves and heaters when camping. People should also avoid throwing cigarettes, matches and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere in a forest.

Coors Banquet fundraiser again benefits Wildland Firefighter Foundation

If you need to burn yard waste, follow local ordinances and avoid burning in windy conditions. Always keep a shovel, water and fire extinguisher nearby.This year’s dry, warm conditions make for a prime wildfire season in the West. Let’s all do our part by helping prevent wildfires when we can. We can also help benefit Protect Our West the Wildland Firefighter Foundation with purchases of Coors Banquet!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.