CHEVROLET COLORADO ZR2

BUILT BY SUMMIT 4X4 COMPANY

This 2019 Chevy Colorado ZR2, owned by Pete and Celeste Gordon of Prescott Valley, AZ, is a tribute to wildland firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty and it’s intended to draw attention to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation (WFF).

The WFF story starts nearly 30 years ago, following the death of 14 wildland firefighters in the South Canyon Fire (Storm King Mtn) near Glenwood Springs, CO in 1994. Following this tragedy, the founder of the WFF and her son, saw a need to fill a gap in support between the employing agencies and the grieving firefighter families. With the help of volunteers, they began raising money to support grieving families. By 1999, the Foundation was an established 501(c) 3 Non-profit assisting families of fallen wildland firefighters. With headquarters in Boise, ID, the WFF also established and maintains The National Wildland Firefighter Monument at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

Most wildland firefighters across the country are employed by Federal, State, and county agencies and others are employed by private firefighting contractors. Most of these firefighters are seasonal employees, some with little to no benefits. Also significant among our wildland firefighters are young men and women with families. When a firefighter is critically injured or is killed in the line of duty, agencies and employers may be limited in their abilities to support families of the injured or deceased firefighters (protocols, staff, financial resources, etc.) Where support may be available by employers, it’s often delayed months or years, in bureaucratic processes or policy limitations. When a firefighter dies, the income stops and survivor benefits are limited or may not exist at all.

When a firefighter is critically injured, worker’s compensation or wages may be delayed or worse, the firefighter loses a job due to the inability to perform arduous duties. But, the costs of living continue whether it’s rent, mortgage, car payments, or groceries creating a hardship for families. This is where the WFF shines. The Foundation can and does immediately respond to families with financial support, grief support, family support, and so much more. The Staff at the WFF works tirelessly all year to respond to those in need. The WFF has been an ally and advocate for all branches and all levels of the wildland firefighter community: for those on the ground and in the air.

Recently, the WFF has also branched out with mental health support and resources for firefighters in a critical time of need. I retired from the US Forest Service (Prescott NF) in 2019 after 30 years as a wildland firefighter: from Hotshots to Fire Chief. I’m still engaged in supporting wildland firefighting as a part-time employee at the Prescott NF Air Tanker Base in the summers, about to begin my 34th year in wildland fire. My wife is also retired from the Forest Service and has spent time on a Hotshot crew, Fire Dispatch, and Prevention before spending most of her career as a leader in Natural Resource Management. Since 1994, we’ve supported the WFF as donors, promoters, advocates, and volunteers. Unfortunately, I’ve also had to call upon their services in my career, and have benefited from personal support (non-financial) and friendship in our own experiences with tragedy.

Right after retiring, we decided we wanted to reengage in our off-road passion but also pay forward, the support for the fallen and the WFF. As we looked to improve the capabilities and performance of the ZR2 to meet our needs for hunting, exploring, and getting better at tackling moderate and technical 4x4 routes, we saw an opportunity to draw attention to the WFF. It started with a few purple powder coatings (coils and shackles). Over time, we’ve added more and more subtle purple accents outside and inside the truck, and increased our social media presence (@azn8tive_zr2). Last year, with the help of Dave Mitchell locally of “928 Wraps” in Prescott Valley, we now proudly display some wildland fire and firefighter pictures as well as the WFF wreath and motto: “Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire.”

This truck is our daily driver. In addition to running local trails and forest roads solo or with small groups of other 4x4 enthusiasts, we also travel on long trips, towing the ZR2 behind our 1-ton Chevy Rossmonster Baja overland rig. We make a few trips a year that take us around the Four-Corners (Moab, southern UT, CO & NM); to the Pacific Northwest; Northern Rockies; Midwest; and Northeast US. We’ve got a trip planned across the southern tier of the US in the coming year and we also have Alaska and Canada on our bucket list. Last May, we drove to Boise to volunteer again at the annual WFF Family Day and displayed this truck for 3 days for the families of fallen firefighters. Recently, we participated in a weekend 4x4 trail run with 50 other Chevy Colorados and GMC Canyons in Calico Ghost Town/Yermo, CA. Our hope is that the Wildland Firefighter Foundation tribute truck has been and will be seen by a lot of people, bringing needed attention to the profession and the need for support of critically injured firefighters or the families of the fallen wildland firefighters in line of duty deaths.

Written by Pete Gordon (ZR2 Owner/Retired Firefighter)