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An Omak family makes T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts that commemorate major fires that tear through communities across the West. (97.3 KIRO FM/Chris Sullivan)

Family selling T-shirts at scene of Taylor Bridge wildfire

BY Chris Sullivan  on August 16, 2012 @ 7:23 am (Updated: 9:33 am - 8/16/12 )

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Some might consider it profiting on the misery and suffering of others, but a family from Omak sees it as a way to make a few bucks to make ends meet.

They make T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts that commemorate major fires that tear through communities across the West. They have set up shop just outside the base camp of the Taylor Bridge fire in Cle Elum. The shirts come in all colors, but the family says the tie-dyed shirts have been the favorites so far.

The family follows major fires, not unlike the Deadheads of days past who followed the Grateful Dead from show to show. They go from state to state and fire to fire making fire-specific shirts.

The one I bought has the great graphics on the back. The front reads "Taylor Bridge Wildfire Washington 2012." The fire fighters love them. It's their way of showing off they were involved in specific fires.

The family has traveled as far away as New Mexico and Colorado to sell their shirts. They know some people think it's a poor way to make a buck, but the family makes no apologies. It's a business to them and it's been working for years.

Before you think less of me for buying a shirt, just realize I didn't have time to pack anything on the way over and three days in the same shirt was a little much.

I just wish the family sold underwear and socks.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (5)


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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    genius
    August 16, 2012 11:50 am
    !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cobain501 wrote...
    Omak
    August 16, 2012 2:52 pm
    this will probably be the greatest thing to ever come out of Omak. quite possibly the worst city this side of the mason dixon line.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Family selling T-shirts for the kop that had his kid killed by is own gun? . . . .
    August 16, 2012 3:02 pm
    do the people that got their homes burned to the ground get a discount? When misery happens to this family hope someone starts selling T-shirts about it. This is the kind of family when someone is murder they would lift the wallet to make ends meets. One sick family.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    The beauty is
    August 17, 2012 1:12 pm
    if offended....don't buy one!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tuleman003 wrote...
    Why don't they
    August 19, 2012 7:10 am
    just sell bottled water to the firefighters? The way I see it, if the whole family can afford to travel from wildfire to wildfire, the money they make is supplemental (not NEEDED to make ends meet).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }