Local Web Site Brings Millions For N.Y. Firefighters

TACOMA - An online effort spawned by local firefighters is bringing in millions of dollars to help the families of the New York City firefighters who died. The Internet site has grown beyond their wildest dreams.

FireDonations.com is a Web site that's emanating from downtown Tacoma, but getting worldwide response "including Iran, Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur, Croatia so the response worldwide has been tremendous," says Steve Careaga, executive director of FireDonations.com

Careaga is a former firefighter at the Bangor submarine base. Web site volunteer Darrin Shaw fights fires for the Central Pierce Fire Department.

Shaw received a call from back East: "This is Penn State University and they'd like to donate $25,000 for three of the fallen firefighters' children. So these are the phone calls we're getting," he said.

They knew they'd get donations, but they didn't realize how many words of sympathy would arrive.

One was from a young girl named Abby, who sent a card that says "God Bless America. Look for Jesus," and it had a picture of the World Trade Center and two planes crashing into the World Trade Center.

The Need To Help

Dozens of Web sites now have direct links to FireDonations.com. The cast of "Ally McBeal" produced a public service announcement for them. Several sports teams have their banners in stadiums.

They say the money is staggering: $3.8 million on the Yahoo site alone. The total figure is approaching $6 million. All because some Tacoma-area firefighters felt the need to help.

FireDonations.com says all of the money is being sent to the New York City local of the International Association of Fire Fighters to help with the long-term needs of the firefighters' families.

Here's the link: firedonations.com