The First-in Fire Foundation shared its “Love at a Grassroots Level� with six Los Angeles County fire stations that included Topanga FS69. As a special Valentine’s gift to show appreciation for the courageous service the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) provides, and with a generous grant from the Los Angeles County Supervisorial Third District for needed appliances, the First-In Fire Foundation provided six Los Angeles County Fire Stations, including Topanga, with new dishwashers, washers and dryers. Calabasas Fire Station FS67 received a washer and dryer; Topanga Canyon FS69 received a washer and dryer; Unincorporated Agoura Fire Station 65 received a portable dishwasher and City of Agoura Hills FS89 received a washer and dryer (see photo); Malibu FS70 received a washer and dryer and FS72 in the unincorporated area of Malibu received a portable dishwasher. The program benefits local fire stations in the Los Angeles County Supervisorial Third District, (SD3) chosen by the Los Angeles County Fire Department leadership. Battalion Chief Rick Lewis, Battalion 5, LACoFD said, “We are very grateful for this donation. The new items will be put to good use, helping our firefighters with the basic tasks that they need to complete every day on top of responding to fires and emergency incidents.� This “Firehouse Laundry Room� program supports the well-being of first responders as they manage on a daily basis the complications and demands of wildfires, earthquakes, floods and ambulance needs in the community. The concept originated and was developed by Foundation President, Lyn MacEwen Cohen “to enable a firehouse to complete regular household cleaning chores at the firehouse including personal laundry, uniforms, towels and bedding. “Being a firefighter automatically means getting really, really, dirty in the line of duty,� Cohen says. “Turnout uniforms are normally sent out for specialized cleaning to remove chemicals and carcinogens. First-In Fire gives firefighters exactly what they need. We deliver heavy-duty, highly rated hygienic appliances to handle the heavy laundry loads necessary at a fire station. This is time- and cost-saving and a huge morale boost for our local firefighters,� she says. The Foundation also encourages residents to befriend their local firefighters and get involved in their local neighborhood emergency preparedness programs, which is greatly valued by the firefighters and Fire Department Command staff. “Friendship is the first step toward preparedness, locally,� Cohen says “If you would like to be part of the First-In Fire Foundation’s firehouse campaign to support local firefighters email: firstinfirefoundation@gmail.com or visit firstinfirefoundation.org. About Lyn MacEwen Cohen. She founded the First-In Fire Foundation as a public service benefit non-profit in 2008. Its mission is to connect local citizens to their local fire stations. In 2020, when the pandemic first began, she seized the opportunity for public service wherever there was a need. At the height of the pandemic she established the “Firehouse Dinners� program, which purchased meals from revenue-stressed local restaurants and merchants. In 2021 she was recognized as a finalist in the Non-Profit Executive category and was presented with the “Inspirational Women Award� by the Los Angeles Times Business Department for her public service The First-In Fire Foundation has been connecting local communities to their local fire stations in Los Angeles since its founding and champions all constituents (residential, corporate, business, and cultural, i.e., museums) to prepare for all emergencies and disasters, individually and together, before crises come. The organization works collaboratively with governmental agencies in the areas of Emergency Management, Los Angeles County Supervisor’s Offices and, of course, the Fire Department.