NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As wildfires continue to rage around Los Angeles, a Nashville non-profit is deploying people to help on the frontlines.
“I don’t think we can really grasp the magnitude just by looking at maps. It’s a big area,” said Bob Pasquale, CEO of Beacon Rescue.
As we continue to see heartbreaking images out of California, Beacon Rescue is sending out personnel to assist in the crisis.
📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →
“We are going to focus on some of the underserved cities that are on the perimeter. We’ve got first responders that are pushing in to help so how can we help those cities that have less first responders currently?” Pasquale said.
Pasquale, the CEO of Beacon Rescue, jumped on a flight Monday afternoon heading out west to aid on the frontlines. Beacon Rescue is a professional search and rescue agency made up of military veterans and first responders.
“My background, which is kind of unique in all of this, is I’m a retired California law enforcement and one of the reasons I’m heading out there is to help coordinate some things,” Pasquale said.
Pasquale said many of their efforts over the last few months have been focused in East Tennessee and North Carolina after Helene destroyed communities.
“If we can get there in the first 24 hours that is our window so we can deploy search and rescue and whatnot,” Pasquale said.
But he said in California, the goal is to work with other non-profits and shelters on their greatest needs. Right now, it’s access to clean water.
“We are looking to hopefully find some areas with boil water advisories so we can get filters to them, but bottled water is definitely going to be a big one and ongoing one as well,” Pasquale said.
He said this is his way of giving back after he served in California law enforcement for 23 years.
“It’s very meaningful for me to be in that position I don’t take it lightly. I take it very seriously and I want to make the most impact that we can with what resources we have, in the position that we are in,” Pasquale said.
Beacon Rescue has launched a welfare check system to assist families affected by the crisis in Los Angeles. To learn more or if you are interested in donating click here.
