Redmond’s Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant closes to prep food for hungry firefighters

(Update: Adding video, comments from restaurant manager)

Several other area businesses also stepped up to fill the need

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Redmond is receiving praise from the community after deciding to shut down to the public for a few hours to fill two big orders to feed hungry firefighters and smokejumpers.. 

Laura Garcia, manager of the restaurant, says she received a phone call from the nearby Forest Service station in Sisters, asking to place an order for a few hundred burritos to feed firefighting crews battling the nearby Monty and Bean Creek fires.

Garcia said, "120 burritos? I was like, 'We're not ready for this' --but then in my head I thought about these people working inside of the woods, and it was like, 'We need to do this.'"

In order to fill the large order, Garcia said they had to shut down the restaurant for about three hours, but her customers were more than understanding about the temporary closure. Some even waited outside until the restaurant reopened.

Shortly after, Garcia said, another call for a large order was placed, this time from the Redmond Air Center, for smokejumpers who were going to be arriving in the area.

Her employees once again were willing to assist.

"I'm so proud to how they reacted to this and how they how enthusiastic they were to do this. That gave me motivation to do it again any time," Garcia said.

Shela Buerger, a customer who was dining at the restaurant Thursday, said she was proud of what they did.

"We just want to say thank you -- thank you for caring and supporting the firefighters," Buerger said.

Garcia added that she's thankful for her staff.

"I want to thank you, the staff, because they were so enthusiastic," Garcia said. "They were so, 'Let's do it! We can do that!' And that makes me happy."

The Forest Service says others also stepped up to help, including:

Rays Food Place
Tate & Tate Catering
Martolli’s of Sisters
Angeline’s Bakery & Cafe - Sisters
Regio’s Cafe - Redmond
Subway – Sisters/Bend
Olive Garden – Bend
Bi-Mart – Sisters (For Gatorade, which nobody else could supply because of the Gatorade shortage)

They said Angeline’s in Sisters worked until 1:30 a.m. to prepare breakfasts and lunches, and even canceled a planed once-a-year raft trip for their staff in order to help out.