SAN ANTONIO – The line wrapped around Cooter Brown's Saloon Sunday afternoon was filled with people waiting not just for a plate of barbecue, but a chance to support their first responders.
"It really is a God send -- the city coming together like this and supporting a local firefighter that gave all," said Jason Boskind, the head bouncer at Cooter's.
San Antonio Firefighter Scott Deem died in a fire at Ingram Park Square on May 18. Two other firefighters, Robert Vasquez and Brad Phipps, were injured as well. Phipps remains in the hospital.
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Boskind, and other staff organized Sunday's fundraiser to benefit not only Deem's family, but also Vasquez and Phipps.
"Immediately after I found out we lost a firefighter, we had to do it. We knew we had to do it," Boskind said.
Volunteers knew they had to help, too. Boskind said more than 200 people lent a hand doing everything from running food to manning the pits.
"Everybody's just so willing to help. It's been an awesome experience. It really has," said Jayson Cladwell, who was cooking chicken for the fundraiser in the parking lot across the road.
Others donated guns to raffle off or items for the silent auction. Boskind said the raffle for two AR-15's alone grossed $86,000.
The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association showed up to sell shirts and collect donations to benefit the families as well.
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Bobby Ford, the union's Public Relations Chairman, said the community has been great in the wake of the tragic blaze.
"Everywhere you go you get that love, that 'we're with y'all. We feel it too. We feel for you,'" Ford said.
Boskind hopes the money they raise will help take pressure off of the families.
"They're not ever going to get back to 100 percent normal, but if we can help any way make that transition easier, obviously that's what we're doing," Boskind said.