‘A knee-jerk reaction’: Tok restaurant feeds wildfire first responders

Published: Jun. 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM AKDT
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A family-owned Tok restaurant is helping to feed first responders fighting wildfires in the area.

The couple who own the restaurant, Terry and Rattana Brigner, started Soho Thai Takeaway Café several years ago as a food truck before moving into a permanent building.

The Brigners said their home was in an evacuation zone, and when they saw first responders helping protect it, they didn’t think twice about what to do next.

“There was a need,” Terry Brigner said. “They were helping us. There was a need within the group that was helping the subdivision and fighting the fire.

“So feeding them that night was just a knee-jerk reaction.”

A family-owned Tok restaurant is helping to feed first responders fighting wildfires in...
A family-owned Tok restaurant is helping to feed first responders fighting wildfires in Interior Alaska.(Courtesy Rattana Brigner)

The couple’s home was in the evacuation zone for the Seven Mile Lookout fire, and they spoke to some state troopers near their home.

Rattana asked if they had eaten, and upon finding out that they hadn’t, she told them she would cook for them.

“I went out there and I talked with the trooper and I saw people working hard trying to protect our house, you know, I’d never seen that,” Rattana said.

“I never, ever in my life seen stuff like that.”

A family-owned Tok restaurant is helping to feed first responders fighting wildfires in...
A family-owned Tok restaurant is helping to feed first responders fighting wildfires in Interior Alaska.(Courtesy Rattana Brigner)

A friend helped transport food to a helicopter pilot, who flew the goods to other first responders fighting the blaze in more remote areas.

Brigner said she and her husband, as well as a few more employees, have given out at least 50 free meals to those working the fires.

A family-owned Tok restaurant is helping to feed first responders fighting wildfires in...
A family-owned Tok restaurant is helping to feed first responders fighting wildfires in Interior Alaska.(Courtesy Rattana Brigner)

The evacuation order for the Brigner’s home was lifted, but with fires and heavy smoke in the area, wildfire season is not over yet.

“I saw them like running around and like I told you, they look exhausted,” Rattana said.

“And it’s not even their house, you know, it’s just whoever tried to protect our town right now. So that’s why I decided to do it.”

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