Neil Diamond paid tribute to the men and women who are fighting the Lake Christine Fire in Colorado by serenading them in a mini concert.
Neil Diamond Sings 'Sweet Caroline' To Colorado Firefighters
On Saturday, July 28, the music icon visited the Incident Command post in Basalt to thank the firefighters who continue to control the wildfire that has been raging for nearly one month now. In a video posted on Facebook, the 77-year-old took his guitar in a venue and sang his classic hit, "Sweet Caroline," in front of dozens of firefighters.
"I want to take you all home, I want to give you a kiss, I want to make dinner for you, and I just want to say thank you from the people of this area for coming down and this town has not been this happy since ... I don't know," Diamond said to the crowd.
"I've been here for 20 years and you've made everybody happier. The heaviness on our hearts is gone and we know the cavalry is here and we say thank you to each of you for making this trip."
The Lake Christine Fire reportedly began on July 3 and has spread to about 12,588 acres. Nearby residential areas had to be evacuated.
Two individuals — a man and a woman — were arrested and charged with fourth-degree arson for starting the fire at a public shooting range near Basalt. According to reports, they were shooting exploding targets which is officially banned in the county.
As of Sunday, July 29, about 72 percent of the wildfire has been contained and pre-evacuation notices have been lifted.
Neil Diamond Announces Retirement
The mini concert for the firefighters fighting the Lake Christine Fire in Colorado comes a few months after Diamond announced that he is retiring from touring. He divulged to fans through his official website that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and has been advised by his doctors to finally leave life on the road after 50 years of great music.
He, however, promised that he will never stop creating music despite his diagnosis.
"My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world," he wrote. "You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement. This ride has been 'so good, so good, so good' thanks to you."
Watch Diamond's concert for the Colorado firefighters fighting Lake Christine Fire below.
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