More Than Just A Hero

You may think that being a firefighter since 1988 and saving men, women, and children's lives is what makes Rachel Griffiths a hero - and it does, but there is more:

For nine years, Rachel has volunteered for the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, fostering orphans and injured wild animals including otters, foxes, raccoons, and currently two little tiny bats that she has to hand-feed and keep warm lest they succumb to the miserable elements.  Their bodies are the size of walnuts and their mouths too small to kill a pickled caper.  Yet, with her strong hands from which she’s pulled many miles of hose, cranked-up hundreds of ladders, and served her community with humble pride, she delicately demonstrates to me where this little creature has lost its essential fur.  They both must wait until it grows back before it can return to the air and be free to kill flying insects for us all. 

Rachel will be retiring next year from the Santa Rosa Fire Department.  She will then continue with her Wildlife Rescue projects and save many little furry lives.  As with all of the Santa Rosa Firefighters, dedication to community does not stop when the shift ends.