Metzger’s staff delivered a new Traeger grill to Los Alamos Fire Department Station 4 Tuesday afternoon. Pictured are, from left, Firefighter/Paramedic Ruben Padilla, Metzger’s Sales Associates Clay Purvis and J.T. Stewart, Capt. James Pepe and Chief Troy Hughes. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Metzger’s Sales Associate J.T. Stewart sets up the grill while explaining some of its advanced features. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
A new Traeger grill arrives at Los Alamos Fire Department Tuesday afternoon courtesy of Metzger’s Do It Best Hardware Stores in Los Alamos and White Rock . Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Each of Los Alamos Fire Department six stations will soon be in possession of a state of the art Traeger grill as a token of appreciation for the dedication shown by their crews since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first grill, which was donated to LAFD by Metzgers Do It Best Hardware, was delivered Tuesday to LAFD Station 4 on Diamond Drive by Metzgers’ staff.
LAFD Chief Troy Hughes told the Los Alamos Reporter that David Jolly, general manager of Metzgers, called him a couple of months ago to tell him the store would like to donate a grill to LAFD. Hughes said he sent a request out to the Department asking where the grill should be placed.
“I didn’t get a very good answer so I talked to David Jolly and told him LAFD would buy five additional grills. So, now all our stations are getting a brand new Traeger to show them a little appreciation for being here for 18 months, doing a ton of overtime, missing their families while we were short-staffed during COVID,” Hughes said. “This shows at least a little bit of recognition.”
Jolly said Monday said he started working with the Traeger company on training for staff on a demo model and the company suggested donating to an entity like LAFD.
“I tried to get grills donated for all the stations but they wouldn’t go for it,” Jolly said. “Chief Hughes decided to buy the other five and we were able to get special pricing for them.”
Jolly commended LAFD and Los Alamos Police Department, as well as his own staff for coming to work every day during the pandemic, exposing themselves to the virus.
“Our staff have been great. Everyone has come to work every day and stayed healthy,” he said.
Jolly said the community gets to see local firefighters buying their groceries at Smith’s Marketplace to take back to cook daily at their stations. The Traeger grills can be operated from an app on a cellphone and the temperature can be finetuned, he said.
“Firefighters never know when they start to cook whether or not they are going to be called out,” Chief Hughes said. “With these grills, the food won’t be spoiled. These guys cook every day and they are pretty good cooks so we know the grills will get some great use.”
Metzgers is an authorized regional Traeger dealer. The grills start at 600 cubic inches and go up from there. They can be ordered and delivered to the store within a week unless there is a COVID-related delay.
“They would make a great Christmas present. We were happy to give LAFD their gift early,” Jolly said.