By Sara Beth Williams–
Firefighters are slated to kick off the 32nd annual “Fill the Boots for Burns” fundraising event and accompanying community safety fair at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights.
The annual event is the Firefighters Burn Institute’s largest annual fundraiser and is scheduled to last from Wednesday through Saturday, with an accompanying safety fair scheduled on Saturday Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The safety fair will offer safety education, live demos, and resources to help prevent burn injuries.
Local firefighters and safety professionals will have hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and practical tips designed to help keep families safe at home and in the community.
Drivers should anticipate some traffic delays in the area due to firefighters walking in and out of traffic to accept donations from motorists during the boot drive.
Hundreds of firefighters volunteer every year to collect money in their boots during the annual Boot Drive fundraisers for the Firefighters Burn Institute according to the organization’s website.
Donations are used to improve burn treatment and to fund life-altering burn recovery programs, including Firefighters Kids Camp for young burn survivors and the Little Heroes Preschool Burn Camp.
The local four-day “Boot Drive” is one of several dozen similar events held across the state, according to the Firefighter’s Burn Institute.
The burn institute was founded by firefighters in 1973 after a Sacramento plane crash killed 22 people and burned many others. The organization also gave $2 million toward the new UC Davis Firefighters Burn Institute Regional Burn Center, which was named in recognition of the Institute’s contributions.
The Boot Drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Feb. 4-7 at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane. with a safety fair held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. in the Sunrise Mall parking lot.
