It was the scorched earth that sobered both men as they drove east toward Tonasket.
In late August, local business owners Rob Paylor and Patrick Durney loaded up their trucks with a week of food to feed Eastern Washington fire fighters in what has become the largest forest fire in our state’s history. Durney is owner of Durney Insurance in Hoquiam, and Paylor, chef and owner (along with Durney) of Seabrook’s Mill 109.
“It was all Patrick’s idea,” Rob Paylor, said of Durney. “He wanted to return the favor to all of the people who volunteered to help us during the flood” last winter.
“I saw the picture of the fire fighters on the side of the road,” Durney said. “And I just thought, well the least we can do is feed them.”
They reached out to the one local they knew would probably have some contacts in Okanogan country — Hank Cramer, a retired Army colonel — and sure enough, he was able to connect them with the Tonasket Fire Dept.
“Had the idea on a Monday night, by Wednesday we loaded up our trucks and by Thursday morning we were delivering our first meal,” Durney said.