By Marshall Smith

Correspondent

Thursday night’s Idyllwild Summer Concert Series performances will be preceded by a ceremonial acknowledgment honoring first responders who fought the Cranston Fires and maintained public order during the fire.

Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, Idyllwild Fire Protection District, Riverside County Fire Department, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol will come onto the concert stage, be saluted for their service and applauded by a grateful community.

The concert also will be a fundraiser to help defray costs of protective gear and clothing lost or destroyed during the Cranston Fire. The value for personal firefighting clothing and gear can exceed $2,500 per individual. But with current strains on first-responder budgets, contributions from concert goers will be greatly appreciated and very helpful.

Idyllwild Fire was one of the first agencies to respond and will be the principal beneficiary of donations collected from “passing the boot.”

This was a unified command experience with fire departments from throughout California and out of state. Attend, salute, contribute and enjoy the concert.