Firefighters Bring Downtown Together for a Good Cause

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Thursday, June 05, 2008, at 11:11PM

Water and Power Ed Fuentes [Flickr]

The final step of the Hose Pull Contest is to knock over a small traffic cone with a jet stream of water, stopping the clock. Nearby, a child leans in to dare the the water to reach her. She remained dry.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Heroes spent the day preparing for competition by wearing special uniforms before showing off their skills and their honed team work. There were flags waving, horns blowing, and score was being kept.

Lakers and Celtics? No. That’s just a game.

Thursday at Hope for Firefighters it was LAFD engine companies who showed Downtown how they could come together by passing buckets of water, pulling hoses and giving teams of non-firefighters some tips on handling hoses and hydrants.

They also showed off their culinary skills; cooking or grilling fish, pork, beef in recipes from the fire house. In some cases they brought in ringers, like Pinks, who joined their local firehouse on Hope Street to help raise money.

How appropriate that all this took place Downtown on a day that started off with a Fashion District blaze that took 175 firefighters to contain.

Councilmembers Jan Perry, Tom LaBonge, and Bill Rosendahl were among those on-hand today thanking the firefighters for their dedication.

The event is a fundraiser for the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association’s Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund. Those who weren’t in attendance can still give to a great cause through the organization’s website.


Flyover Eric Richardson

LAFD helicopters fly over Hope for Firefighters in formation.

Hope for Firefighters Eric Richardson

Hope street was filled to capacity with those enjoying food and entertainment.

Rooting on Ed Fuentes

Tom LaBonge, whose council district is home to Griffith Park, roots on his staff from Council District 4 who competed in the days events.

Hope for Firefighters Eric Richardson

A corporate team competes in one of the “Muster” game events.

dunk a teammate Ed Fuentes

A new entry to Hope for Firefighters is the Downtown Comedy Club, who added a punchline to the end of their hose pull.


Comments

1
Bartleight writes:

This is a great event and for a good cause. It any of you missed it this year try and attend next year, especially if you work in the area. It’s a great time, very festive, good food, and a nice break from the usual lunch offerings on Bunker Hill. You feel like you’re at a weekend festival and forget that it’s actually a work day.

# on Jun.06.2008 AT 11:28 AM
2
Ed Fuentes writes:

This is easily one of the best event in Downtown

# on Jun.06.2008 AT 11:00 PM

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