CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – From Wednesday, Feb. 5 to Saturday, Feb. 8, more than 200 firefighters and volunteers from the Sacramento County region participated in the 31st Fill the Boot for Burns fundraiser at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights. 

More than $185,0000 was raised by local firefighters dressed in their familiar yellow striped jackets and helmets, and carrying their boots, ready to collect passing drivers’ and pedestrians’ dollars and spare change for the cause.

Donations are used to improve burn treatment and to fund life-altering burn recovery programs, including Firefighters Kids Camp for young burn survivors ages 6 to 17 and the Little Heroes Preschool Burn Camp for children ages 1 to 6 years and their families.

The official tally at the end of the week of $185,220 exceeded the amount raised of $160,000 last year.  Helping raise funds were fire personnel from Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Metro Fire Department, Consumnes Fire Department, Woodland Fire Department, UC Davis Fire Department, Sacramento Airport, Folsom Fire Department, Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County. Following the main event in Citrus Heights each winter, smaller satellite fundraisers are held during the year throughout the area. 

For some volunteers and firefighters, this is a family affair.  Theresa Chambers, 50 and a firefighter, has been with Placer Hills Fire Protection District since 2023. She carries her 15-month son, Dustyn with her to Fire Fighters Burn Institute events on her back.  She has also been a volunteer counselor for Kid’s Burn Camp in Livermore for nine years. 

“It is awesome to be working with the kids,” Chambers said

Treva has been a volunteer with Fire Fighters Burn Institute for 11 years. Her grandson has been coming with her since he was four.  Now 15, he has donned his Sparky, the Fire Dog outfit for the event for two years.  Treva says of her volunteering for Fire Fighters Burn Institute, “It’s the most worthwhile hours I spend every year.” She sees the fire department as “the most wholesome job ever and the best ambassador to young people.”

According to Rachel Crowell, Fire Fighters Burn Institute director, the Top 3 sponsors this year were Golden Coast Construction & Restoration, Regional Builders, Inc. and Duarte Construction.

Another event, the annual Safety Fair, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 8 included fire department displays and demonstrations in the Sunrise Mall parking lot, featuring a Jaws of Life vehicle extrication demonstration, fire engines and fire trucks. 

A fan favorite was the landing and take-off of three helicopters from Sacramento Metro, a bright red REACH Medical Rescue helicopter and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department helicopter. Families gathered around for closeup of these impressive machines usually only seen from afar.  

Fire Fighters Burn Institute is one of 70-plus fire agencies throughout Northern and Central California to support burn programs and the regional burn center. 

The Fire Fighters Burn Institute was brought about in response to a terrible accident.

In 1972, a jet airplane attempting to take off from Sacramento Executive Airport crashed into a crowded Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor, killing 23 people and burning many others. A Sacramento firefighter, Gene LaVine, and eight members of his family died in the fiery crash. Shortly after, Sacramento Fire Department Captain Cliff Haskell convinced the Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522 to allow him to begin work establishing a specialized burn unit for the area. Haskell’s initial fundraising campaigns formed the Fire Fighters Burn Institute in December 1973.

Shortly after its founding, Fire Fighters Burn Institute collaborated with physicians and administration at the University of California Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) to open a Regional Burn Center in January 1974. Over the years, Fire Fighters Burn Institute has expanded its mission to include burn research, public education, fire and burn prevention and burn recovery for survivors and their families, which extends far beyond the firefighting community to all burn survivors.

For more information, contact the Firefighters Burn Institute at 916-739-8525 or visit its website at www.ffburn.org.