Hilliard Little League Hosts Spaghetti Dinner for Firefighters Battling Nearby Wildfires

Community volunteers step up to provide meals for first responders as local baseball games are postponed due to smoke and fire staging area setup.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:39am

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted earth tones, with billowing clouds of smoke obscuring the horizon and casting a somber light over a small staging area of fire trucks and emergency vehicles below.The selfless efforts of first responders battling wildfires are honored by a community coming together to provide sustenance and support.Hilliard Today

The Hilliard Little League in Florida had to postpone their scheduled baseball games due to nearby wildfires, but the community quickly pivoted to provide meals for the first responders fighting the blazes. Volunteers cooked up spaghetti dinners, hot dogs, and other food to feed the firefighters, forest service crews, and other personnel who had set up a staging area on the little league fields. The community's support and gratitude for the first responders' efforts were greatly appreciated as they worked to contain the 500-acre Conner-Nelson Road fire and the 100-acre Buford Bay fire.

Why it matters

This story highlights how local communities can come together to support first responders during natural disasters and emergencies. By providing meals and other assistance, the Hilliard Little League demonstrated the power of community spirit and the importance of rallying behind those risking their lives to protect the area.

The details

With the little league games postponed due to the nearby wildfires and the fields being used as a staging area, the Hilliard Little League volunteers sprang into action. Led by board member Stephen Smith and his wife Katie, they cooked up hot dogs, spaghetti, and banana pudding to feed the firefighters, forest service crews, and other first responders battling the blazes. The volunteers ensured there would be breakfast and lunch available for the crews the next day as well.

  • The Conner-Nelson Road fire was reported to be 40% contained by Saturday evening.
  • The Buford Bay fire had expanded to 100 acres and was 3% contained by 3:35 p.m. on Saturday.
  • The Hilliard Little League's next scheduled games are on Tuesday night.

The players

John Brown

The president of the Hilliard Little League.

Stephen Smith

A board member of the Hilliard Little League who suggested cooking lunch for the first responders.

Katie Smith

The wife of Stephen Smith, who helped cook the meals for the first responders.

Rob Chase

A Florida Forest Service Public Information Officer who expressed gratitude for the community's support.

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What they’re saying

“Without the community's support, it makes things a little bit difficult. To see the community come out here to help support us with the gratitude of a small meal and waters is greatly appreciated.”

— Rob Chase, Florida Forest Service Public Information Officer

“They're out there risking their lives to save the community so we can help them and give back.”

— John Brown, Hilliard Little League President

What’s next

The Hilliard Little League is hoping to get the baseball players back on the fields for their next scheduled games on Tuesday night, once the fire staging area is no longer needed on the fields.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the power of community spirit and the importance of supporting first responders during times of crisis. By providing meals and other assistance, the Hilliard Little League showed how local organizations can come together to uplift those risking their lives to protect the community.