09/05/2026
The Wallace family is very thankful for all the firefighters, neighbors, friends, and new friends who came and helped us at the fire.
Keith would like to thank some people specifically:
This is not an exhaustive list of everyone; it’s only what I personally experienced. There were many more wonderful people and actions!!
I am thankful for the Edwards County Volunteer Firemen who spent over half a week, almost twenty-four hours a day, fighting this fire, and thankful for their families for letting them do it. There was absolutely nothing glamorous about what they did. All grunt work, day after day.
I am thankful for Mrs. Moreno for driving a fire truck when things were in a bad spot.
I am thankful for Jana Brown for keeping me informed and directing me when I first got to the fire. Just because you can see the fire doesn't mean you'll make good road choices to get to it.
I am thankful for Asa Shanklin, True Burson, Mike Grooms, TJ Craddock, and the Edwards County Road Department for filling up fire trucks and sprayers day and night.
I am thankful for Katy Shanklin, Mrs. Dallas, Mrs. Poole, and other kind ladies for bringing and preparing food.
Most of you I only met in the dark. If you recognize me in town, please say “hello,” so I can put a face to the name.
I am thankful for the Edwards County dispatchers for enduring and coordinating through my yelling over the phone. You all were a lifesaver in getting us equipment. I would not have answered my own phone number after the first few calls.
I am thankful for Game Warden Blake Satterfield for coming on his day off and coordinating the fire on our side. (I am assuming the dispatchers were really excited for him to be there too, and not a yelling Keith.)
I am thankful for the Forest Service backburning crew for putting the fire to bed.
I am thankful for the guy I randomly ran into in the middle of the pasture, wearing a do-rag and carrying a bunch of radios, who never stopped moving. Come to find out, he was the air traffic controller for the airplanes making drops. He was a busy man. And I am thankful for the Forest Service airplanes and pilots that made those drops.
I am thankful for firemen Brian Poole and Nace Bissett, who were willing to come to the head of the fire and make a game plan to stop the fire.
I am thankful for Andy, Cole, Jackson, and Lane for coming from such a long distance, bringing a sprayer, manpower, and food.
I am thankful for my neighbor Bonnie Baker, along with her family and employees, who worked tirelessly to fight the fire on their side of the fence.
I am thankful for King Burger and the Jailhouse Grill for feeding firefighters who more than earned it.
I am thankful for Lily Franco and Reba Ramos, who fought the head fire as hard as any firefighters out there, on the Leinweber property with no help.
I am thankful for my daughter Mere, who got right up on the fire while she was spraying. I am thankful for my son Sid, who took off work to come help. I am thankful for my wife Vicky for staying out there with me, hooking up sprayers, and telling me where to go.
I am thankful for the brief but good time my son and I got to spend with my neighbor and friend Jake Shanklin in the middle of the pasture while we waited for the fire to come to us. It shouldn’t take a wildfire to get neighbors together; I intend to work on this.
I am thankful for all the fire departments who came. Leakey, Nueces Canyon, Uvalde, Mountain Home, Ingram, and any others I did not see.
I am also very thankful for Chief Jimmy and Assistant Chief Kenny, all the resources, and expertise the Divide Fire Department brought with them. One night, they showed up with five fully manned fire trucks and a tender.
I am grateful, and we are grateful as a family.
Thank you to everyone.
Please tag anyone mentioned above, our facebook is not allowing us to tag everyone.
