N.S. restaurant closes to the public to help feed hungry firefighters

Wilder Restaurant and General Store is seen in this photo posted to their Facebook page

A restaurant in Nova Scotia is closed to the public until further notice while it helps keep firefighters well fed for the busy days ahead.

The owners of the Wilder Restaurant and General Store, in the community of Maitland Bridge, are devoting their full attention to feeding hungry fire crews busy battling raging local wildfires.

“The Restaurant is closed for the next few days while we supply food to the fire teams working their tails off to put out the fires in our area. Everyone here is safe and doing well. See you all again when the work is done,” reads a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

The cost of the meals and bagged lunches are being covered by the Department of Natural Resources and the restaurant is operating both day and night to help make sure everyone is getting their fill, reports The Chronicle Herald.

“The nature of fire has been so unpredictable that the pattern of hungry firefighters has been unpredictable too. Different crews come in at different times,” said Wilder Restaurant co-owner Lekas Bell.

And one of the restaurant's top priorities is making sure each and every meal has the necessary nutrients to help keep these hard working fire crews at their very best.

“We’re making sure they get fruit, vegetables and things with high-quality protein,” he said.

Besides serving up meals throughout the day, the Wilder Restaurant is also acting as a community drop-off centre for non-perishable food items to be given to those working along the fire line.

And anyone who wishes to make a monetary donation is also being encouraged to give directly to their local fire department as well.