MI Windows and Doors (MIWD) and its key suppliers recently donated a check for $10,000 to the Prescott Area Wildland Defense Fund. This donation is the first part of a pledge from MIWD to donate $25,000 over the next five years to help the fire department rebuild their wildfire defense teams.

The funds will go toward rebuilding a 10-person crew that proactively works to prevent wildland fires by educating the public on the real threat of wildfire, reducing the threat of wildfire to the community and assisting homeowners in the creation of defensible space on their property, according to officials. It costs more than $1,000 in chainsaws and safety gear to outfit each crew member. The money donated will go directly toward outfitting that crew.

MIWD’s top suppliers, Cardinal Glass, Veka Inc., Quanex Building Products, ISC and The Amesbury Co., each donated $1,000 and MIWD matched those funds.

Mike DeSoto, MIWD chief operating officer, presented Prescott Fire Department Chief Eric Kriwer a check for $10,000 payable to Prescott Area Wildland Defense Fund.

DeSoto said he was saddened by the tragedy that killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

“June 30th was a tragic day for the Prescott Area. The loss of the Granite Mountain Hot Shot fire fighters struck deep into the whole community,” he says. “Some MIWD team members lost close friends. All of us felt the weight of the loss and most were asking, ‘What can we do as a company to help?’ When I reached out to our key suppliers to see how we could help together, they all agreed without hesitation to assist.”