By Alexandra Ulmer
ST. HELENA, California (Reuters) – Last October, firefighter Ryan Bellanca and his crew battled to keep the raging Glass Fire from devastating an upmarket Napa Valley vineyard.
But Bellanca wasn’t working for any fire department. He owns a private company that had been hired to protect the vineyard. Authorities from Cal Fire and the Napa County Sheriff’s office eventually stepped in and detained the private firefighters for several hours, according to Bellanca and a sheriff’s office report. Bellanca said Cal Fire accused his crew of lighting dangerous backfires and failing to leave an evacuated area.
“It is so upsetting and does make you so angry, especially when people don’t see what goes on behind closed doors to try and help him.” On the flip side, the family have also made “friends for life” with helpful heroes who have come to their aid when Rudy has been overwhelmed and has needed extra support. In conversation - Ian Shelley with Rudy Fernando Jogger Ian Shelley even lay down on the pavement on Southend seafront to talk to him after he slumped to the ground and refused to get up. Rudy, who suffers with a sensory processing disorder and global development delay along with autism, only got to his feet thanks to Ian putting his mind at rest.