9NEWS Mountain Reporter
KUSA-TV
Each one is a snap shot of his life between his home in Silverthorne and his loving work in Cambodia. "I know I've done a good job in just 3 years," says Mendel.
In the winter of 2003 Doug was a volunteer fire fighter in Summit County and taking a trip to Cambodia. During that trip he noticed firefighters didn't have the equipment they needed. "They were responding to fires in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals," says Mendel.
From that observation he began what would become a massive operation to bring firefighting equipment to Cambodia.
It started out small. Doug would pick up donated gear from fire departments around Summit County . "I was just delivering a couple of boxes of boots and shirts," said Mendel. But that effort grew as fast as a fire, and over the years Doug has brought more than 60 full sets of bunker gear to 7 fire stations in Cambodia. That doesn't include his most recent donation . "I t's about 12 tones, has a 750 gallon tank, about 27 feet long, ten feet wide, and 12 feet tall," said Mendel.
Within a year of Doug's relief operation the fire chief in the Cambodian town of Sihanoukville asked Doug for a complete and working fire truck, something they did not have. Doug asked for them to give him 2 years and he would have that truck.
It wasn't hard finding a truck. By 2005 the Red, White and Blue Fire Department in Breckenridge had a truck they could donate and decided to give it to Doug. He then had a truck to send to Cambodia but also needed 18,000 dollars to ship it. So he started selling Cambodian crafts.
Dollar by dollar he raised half the amount needed with the rest coming from donations . "I basically raised 18,000 dollars last November through January, 9,000 selling hand crafts at various venues the rest from friends and family," says Mendel.
With a fire truck and money for shipping Doug sent engine 633 to Savannah, Georgia where it was loaded on a freighter. 33 days after that it was in Cambodia along with Doug. "
The 15 fire fighters at the station, including the fire captain, and a one star general were more than happy. They were elated," says Mendel.
The delivery completes Doug's promise, but for him, also shows what one person can accomplish with just a little help. "One person can make a difference," says Mendel.
He already has another trip planned in September, albeit a smaller load this time. "I'll just bring 600 pounds of bunker gear," said Mendel.
To help fund that trip he'll be selling his Cambodian crafts at summer fairs in places like Frisco on July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
In the winter of 2003 Doug was a volunteer fire fighter in Summit County and taking a trip to Cambodia. During that trip he noticed firefighters didn't have the equipment they needed. "They were responding to fires in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals," says Mendel.
From that observation he began what would become a massive operation to bring firefighting equipment to Cambodia.
It started out small. Doug would pick up donated gear from fire departments around Summit County . "I was just delivering a couple of boxes of boots and shirts," said Mendel. But that effort grew as fast as a fire, and over the years Doug has brought more than 60 full sets of bunker gear to 7 fire stations in Cambodia. That doesn't include his most recent donation . "I t's about 12 tones, has a 750 gallon tank, about 27 feet long, ten feet wide, and 12 feet tall," said Mendel.
Within a year of Doug's relief operation the fire chief in the Cambodian town of Sihanoukville asked Doug for a complete and working fire truck, something they did not have. Doug asked for them to give him 2 years and he would have that truck.
It wasn't hard finding a truck. By 2005 the Red, White and Blue Fire Department in Breckenridge had a truck they could donate and decided to give it to Doug. He then had a truck to send to Cambodia but also needed 18,000 dollars to ship it. So he started selling Cambodian crafts.
Dollar by dollar he raised half the amount needed with the rest coming from donations . "I basically raised 18,000 dollars last November through January, 9,000 selling hand crafts at various venues the rest from friends and family," says Mendel.
With a fire truck and money for shipping Doug sent engine 633 to Savannah, Georgia where it was loaded on a freighter. 33 days after that it was in Cambodia along with Doug. "
The 15 fire fighters at the station, including the fire captain, and a one star general were more than happy. They were elated," says Mendel.
The delivery completes Doug's promise, but for him, also shows what one person can accomplish with just a little help. "One person can make a difference," says Mendel.
He already has another trip planned in September, albeit a smaller load this time. "I'll just bring 600 pounds of bunker gear," said Mendel.
To help fund that trip he'll be selling his Cambodian crafts at summer fairs in places like Frisco on July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
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