Firefighters Bring Downtown Together for a Good Cause
Ed Fuentes
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.
Bartleight on June 06, 2008, at 11:28AM – #1
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.
Ed Fuentes on June 06, 2008, at 11:00PM – #2
This is easily one of the best event in Downtown
Paul Linton on May 20, 2009, at 05:09PM – #3
What a great way to meet, greet and thank these great heros of our community! Come hang out with Shawn Parr of 105 Go Country and have some of the best food you'll ever have for 6 bucks. Held the 1st thursday of June, (June 4th '09). Check it out and there's lot's more info on their web site, "Hopeforfirefighters.org" loaded with Photos, videos, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. And be sure to thank our Firefighters for being there for us all! Burn it into your calendar, grab your best bud and be there!