“Monster” Support for NFFF
For the past five years, the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the “Monster Mile” (Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE) has been a day to show appreciation to firefighters and their families, while also raising funds for the survivors of fallen firefighters through the sales of a hospitality ticket package partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).
Since the partnership’s inception, it has grown to include a number of great benefits for firefighters attending the race, including a pre-race hospitality ticket package, a fire truck parade during the pre-race ceremonies and the Firehouse Challenge, which awards the fire company with the most attendees at the race with its very own Monster trophy to keep in the station all year.
Through two years of the Firehouse Challenge, the members of Cressona Fire Company No. 1 in Cressona, Pa., have flocked to Dover to claim the trophy at back-to-back race weekends.
But while the fun of the day’s festivities creates a great atmosphere for the firefighters and their families, the most important component of the event is the money raised for the NFFF – which totals $390,365 to date.
All proceeds from hospitality ticket sales and sales of a special commemorative T-shirt are donated to the NFFF, along with gracious contributions and donations from the program’s sponsors, which have included Stanley Black & Decker, Motorola, Kidde, Provident, Holmatro, PBI, BFPE and others.
The NFFF hospitality package is now on sale for the Sept. 29 “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. For just $109, firefighters and their families can get a reserved ticket to the race; access to a hospitality tent that features an all-you-can-eat buffet and beverages (Pepsi and Anheuser-Busch products); a Trackside Access pass allowing them to walk along the frontstretch next to pit road on Sunday morning as the teams are setting up the pit stalls for the day; special guest appearances; and much more.
For more information or to purchase the NFFF hospitality package, visit www.MonsterMileOffers.com/NFFF or call 800-441-RACE.
U.S. Forest Service Honors Fourth-Grade Artist
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell officially awarded a Porter Ranch, CA, fourth-grader with the top prize in the 2013 Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl Poster Contest, co-sponsored by the National Garden Clubs Inc.
Crystal Baik received a trophy, a framed copy of her art and a Smokey Bear doll for her full-color poster depicting a couple inside of a tent while their campfire blazes in the night. She included Smokey Bear saying, “Don’t forget to turn out the campfire!” Another element to her scene includes forest animals scurrying away as fire begins to burn the tent.
“This program captures the imagination and talents of so many young children,” Tidwell said. “What better way to spread the messages of Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl than through the artistic expressions of our children.”
In creating the winning poster, Baik bested more than 25,000 other first- through fifth-graders who entered the contest through their local garden clubs. Crystal took top honors in the fourth-grade category before being named the national winner, while her brother, Solomon, took home the third-grade prize.
This Month in Fire History
August 4, 1949, Gates of the Mountain, MT
Forest fire kills 13 firefighters
August 9, 1965, Searcy, AR
Titan II ICBM silo fire kills 53
August 10, 1955, Andover, OH
Gateway Restaurant fire kills 22
August 11, 1874
First Sprinkler head patented by H.S. Parmelee
August 17, 1975, Philadelphia, PA
Gulf Oil refinery fire causes $44 million in damages
August 24, 1812, Washington, DC
Washington set afire by British troops during War of 1812
August 25, 1974, Berkeley Springs, WV
Washington House Hotel fire kills 12
August 28, 1923, Hull, MA
Conflagration destroys 44 buildings and kills 2
August 31, 1968, Gary, IN
In Crowd lounge fire kills 13
Courtesy of NFPA
For details on fires that occurred 100 years ago this month, turn to Paul Hashagen’s “Rekindles” on page XXX.
