Los Angeles Firefighters Present The Album of the Year Award At The Grammys

By Amelie Geoffroy 

Firefighters anywhere within a few hundred miles of Los Angeles spent weeks fighting hundreds of fires along the coast of southern California, resulting in 57,636 acres and 16,244 structures burned and 29 fatalities as of Feb. 4. After having to leave their families and homes to risk their lives and help strangers, there aren’t many things that could be done to thank them for the amount of labor and trauma that was put into this effort. However, a chance for a group of first responders to be honored in front of the world (and a room full of celebrities) was the reward that the Recording Academy decided to give the firefighters.

Following the awarding of the Song of the Year Grammy (given to Kendrick Lamar for “Not Like Us”), 21 first responders were given a standing ovation as they emerged onto the stage. LA fire chief Anthony Marrone, as well as fire captain Sheila Kelliher Berkoh, shared their experiences fighting the fatal fires, and the importance of recognizing the people who participated in helping the people of LA county. “Thank you for supporting all of us, and recognizing the heroes who are standing behind me, and the she-roes,” said Marrone in his opening remarks on the Grammy stage. The fire chief went on in his speech to thank first responders who came “from near and far,” and gave hope and encouragement to the residents of LA county by saying, “I am confident that we will recover and rebuild together because we are LA strong.” After this presentation, the first responders were given a standing ovation and the longest applause of the night. 

With the numerous requests for funding for the LA Fire Department (directed towards Grammy attendees and their viewers), as well as first-hand accounts of the experience of firefighters in dangerous and devastating times, it is clear that the Grammys made their best effort to not only support the firefighters putting their lives on the line, but also the recipients of the destruction caused by the wildfires.