During the 67th Grammy Awards on Sunday, members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department received an extended standing ovation from celebrities and audience members in recognition of their efforts battling recent wildfires in Southern California.
Roughly two dozen firefighters took the stage to present the Album of the Year award, met with loud cheers from attendees. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone expressed gratitude for the support, with first responders appearing honored by the recognition.
“Wow, thank you,” Marrone said while onstage. “Thank you for supporting all of us and recognizing the heroes that are standing behind me and the sheroes.”
“On behalf of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, I would like to thank the recording academy for having us here this evening,” Marrone added. “This is a tremendous honor and privilege to be in the company of such talented music industry professionals.”
“As fire chief, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank first responders who came from near and far to battle this wildfire siege,” he continued. “In the midst of unprecedented fire conditions, their selfless acts of courage and commitment were nothing short of inspiring. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers remain with all the families who have lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors, along with everyone who has lost homes, businesses, and been displaced.”
Additionally, host Trevor Noah announced that the Academy would be accepting donations throughout the night to assist with recovery efforts for those impacted by the fires.
The wildfires, which broke out last month, have burned more than 16,000 structures in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, have scorched a combined 37,469 acres, according to NBC Los Angeles.
