Picnic, auction support St. Ignatius volunteer fire department
Megan Strickland
he Robine siblings don plastic hats for the St. Ignatius Fireman’s Picnic and Auction.
Megan Strickland
Bernie Lovell looks over auction items.
Megan Strickland
Kids cool off via water slide in triple-digit temperatures.
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
ST. IGNATIUS – Townsfolk in St. Ignatius flocked to the 21st annual Fireman’s Picnic and Auction on Saturday, under triple digit temperatures and a dry sky that had most in attendance stressing why the event is so important in the first place.
“It’s very important, especially now,” resident Bernie Lovell said. “It’s so hot and it’s so dry. God Bless them if they have to fight a fire. It will be long and hard, but we’ve got the best firefighters in the West, as far as I’m concerned.”
The auction partners some good barbecue and pop with an auction block where people far and wide toss in things that might fetch a good bid. Three cords of firewood, a playhouse, large decorative sandstone rocks, antique snowshoes, paintings and a piano were among this year’s offerings.
City Councilman Roger Lemon said he hoped the turnout would be good, though he worried the heat might have driven a few people to cooler venues.
“I’m thinking some people went to the water,” Lemon said.
Nonetheless, every penny earned makes a difference.
“It’s a huge difference,” Lemon said. “It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year.”
Monies raised help pay for equipment and uniforms for the department, which can be expensive. Uniforms are especially costly because they have to be custom fit to the individual firefighter.
While some people may have stayed home, there was still a large crowd that chowed down under the Good Old Days Pavilion, with children queuing up for only one of the carnival games – the water slide. Its popular competitor, the jumbo bouncy house, sat vacant as kiddos clamored to soak up the firehose’s spray as it emptied more water into the slide under the scorching sun.
Jennifer Broughton noted what a difference a year makes.
“Last year it was really cold and rainy,” Broughton said.
She comes to the event rain or shine.
“It’s a fun community event that benefits the town fire department,” she said.
