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As wildfires raged across California, displacing families and pushing first responders to their limits, Fire Department Coffee, the Official Coffee of NHRA, stepped up to provide critical support.��

With thousands of firefighters working around the clock in grueling conditions, the veteran-owned and firefighter-run business took action — first by shipping a full pallet of coffee to the Los Angeles County Fire Department and then by deploying FDC’s Rosenbauer Disaster Relief Fire Truck on a 2,000-mile journey to deliver more coffee and supplies directly to crews on the front lines.

Fire Dept. Coffee’s relief efforts began with more than 8,000 single-serve pouches of their Skull-Crushing Instant Espresso, sent west from FDC’s headquarters in Rockford, Ill. The instant coffee was a perfect fit for firefighters on the go — easy to mix with water or milk, whether in base camp or out in the field.

The response was immediate.��

Firefighters welcomed the boost, and every pouch went straight into the hands of those battling the flames.

As the fires spread and conditions worsened, the FDC team knew they had to do more. Founder and CEO Luke Schneider, along with his son and Director of Brand Relations Randy James, made the trip to California, bringing not just more coffee but also much-needed supplies and a message of appreciation.��

They made stops at key operational bases, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Zuma Beach in Malibu, and the Camarillo Helibase, as well as multiple Los Angeles County Fire Department camps and stations. The team brewed fresh coffee, distributed warm socks and beanies for the cold nights, and provided additional support to help sustain firefighters facing extreme conditions.

For many, the visit was a welcome reminder that people across the country were standing behind them.��

“My son was with us as we visited different locations, and we could see it on the firefighters’ faces,” Schneider said. “They were exhausted. They had seen things they wished they hadn’t. Many of them said, ‘I haven’t had a good cup of coffee in a week.’ "

What stood out to the FDC team was the unbreakable resolve they saw in the men and women battling the blazes.

“The gravity of the task was immense — thousands of firefighters, hundreds of pieces of apparatus, and no complaints,” James said. “These men and women accepted the challenge with servant hearts.”

Fire Dept. Coffee’s commitment to firefighters runs deep. Their team has supported countless firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics across the country, and their Fire Dept. Coffee Charitable Foundation continues to provide aid to those in need.��

NHRA is proud to partner with Fire Dept. Coffee, a company that not only fuels race teams and fans but also shows up when it matters most.��
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