Party to be held for first responders

PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a party for first responders who battled the 267 Fire in April.

The 5:30 p.m. Thursday gathering at Portales City Park will include hot dogs, soft drinks, ice cream and cookies provided by the chamber and area businesses. A brief program thanking those first responders will be included.

The April 10 blaze, aided by 70 mph wind gusts, claimed four homes and injured two people, one a firefighter. It consumed nearly 3,000 acres before it was stopped short of a subdivision.

“Our board considered naming these responders as our volunteers of the month for May,” Chamber Executive Director Karl Terry said. “That didn’t seem adequate to express the community’s thanks and appreciation. We felt sure our community would step up in a bigger way if we asked and in short order we had the food and grill donated to throw a picnic.”

After the first responders are served, Terry said, the community will be served until the food runs out.