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Special Events
San Mateo County Public Safety Memorial Service
Redwood City Fire Captain Greg DaCunha took the lead in organizing the formal tribute to fallen public safety members in San Mateo County.
The inspiration for the service resulted from the line of duty death
of Redwood City Firefighter Matt Smith and was seen as an opportunity
to honor Matt and other public safety professionals in the County.
The first annual service took place at the Mount Alverno Retreat
Center in Redwood City on Sunday, September 8, 2002 and remembered
public safety professionals from Southern San Mateo County. Due
to the success and positive feedback of this first event, and consistent
with the organizing committee’s original intent, the service
has been expanded to include all public safety agencies from San
Mateo County. The annual service is now held at the Cunningham Memorial Chapel at College of Notre Dame
de Namur University in Belmont.
The 2011's event was a success . The next Memorial Service will be on Sunday September 9, 2012 at Notre Dame de Namur University at 10:00 a.m.
County public safety agencies including fire, police, American
Medical Response(AMR), California Highway Patrol(CHP), and the County
Sheriff’s Office all have representatives present to read
the names of their fallen members and retirees who have passed away.
San Mateo County chaplains conduct the service which is non-denominational.
All are invited to join in the commemoration and honoring of those
who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
July 4th Pancake Breakfast
Each year the Redwood City Firefighter’s Association puts
on its annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast fund raiser. The Firefighter’s
Association has a great time feeding the public at Station 9 on
the morning of the 4th of July. Last year the Firefighters fed almost
1,000 people. The firefighters used 250 lbs of pancake mix, 25 gallons
of syrup, 65 lbs of breakfast sausage and 50 gallons of coffee.
The Firefighters turn on their grills at 5:00 AM, and start serving
the public at 7:30 AM. Come enjoy a fun breakfast that goes to a
good cause.
July 4th Holiday Parade
In the July 4th parade antique fire equipment is paraded through
the streets of Down Town Redwood City.
The Fire Department also does behind the scene work: conducting
safety inspections of parade floats, providing paramedics on bicycles
for easy access through the crowds, and overseeing the overall health
and safety of the parade, the participants and the spectators. We
have additional crews who respond to the added call volume associated
with large crowds and the high fire danger during the summer. In
the evening we conduct the safety inspection of the traditional
July 4th fireworks display.
Burn Relay - August
Once a year the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation has a fund raiser
in the bay area operated through the local fire departments called
the Burn Relay. A “parade” of Professional and Privately
owned fire engines travel from Santa Clara to San Francisco. With
the efforts of the California Highway Patrol as escort and Channel
5 News as a celebrity host, the parade of engines slowly travels
to each city’s main fire station with lights and sirens to
collect the fund raising money from the fire department. Most of
the money comes personally from the Fire Fighters and Staffs’
pockets, with some of the larger donations coming from fund raisers.
In 2002, over $150,000 was raised through the Peninsula’s
fire departments.
The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation holds an annual Summer Camp
in June for any child between the ages of 5 and 16 year of age who
has been hospitalized by a burn. The children are primarily from
California. The camp is held at a “Dude Ranch” in Sanger,
California just east of Fresno. The camp offers sailing, go-carts,
horse back riding, swimming, a ropes (challenge) course, a one-day
field trip to the water slides and many other activities. It is
an opportunity for the children to not feel like outcasts in society
and to see other children who have more challenges in life than
themselves. It’s a place where they can take their shirts
off and not be ashamed of their injuries. All counselors are volunteers;
many are from the fire service but that is not a requirement. It’s
a place where burn-injured children can grow by leaps and bounds
in one short week - that’s “Champ Camp!”
If you wish to donate to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation you
can call 1-800-242-BURN, see www.aarbf.org
or contact Redwood City Fire Fighter Jeff Timms at RCFD 650-780-7400.
Hometown Holiday Parade
In December, there is a parade downtown to celebrate the joy of
the season. The crowd is smaller than on July 4th. The Fire Department
oversees the safety of the participants, especially children. One
of the highlights of the evening is the lighting of the large Redwood
tree in front of City Hall. The grand finale is a traditional holiday
fireworks display.
Redwood City Firefighter's Association and the Redwood City Police Activities League Toy and Book Drive - December
Police and Fire team up to make a lot of people very happy every
holiday season! Roughly 900 families in Redwood City will see Santa
arrive at their house in either a police car or a fire engine in
December. Not just Santa, but Santa with a large plastic bag full
of wrapped toys for the children at each house where he stops. Names
of worthy recipients are gathered through the Fair Oaks Community
Center*.
Police and Fire work together in managing the toy and book drive.
Their work includes recruiting businesses to place cans in their
offices/stores and/or contacting stores directly for donations and
sending thank you notes. In 2001, 50 local businesses filled 80
barrels for a generous total of 11,000 toys collected. On top of
that 25 businesses sponsored wrapping parties by providing food
and drink for volunteers. The two public safety agencies also recruited
over 500 volunteers to wrap the gifts collected. Contact Justin Velasquez for more information.
Redwood City Police and Fire Toy and Book Drive:
The Police Officer's Association and Redwood City Fire Department’s Create-A-Smile Foundation, both
donate money to buy wrapping paper, tape, toys and books. If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation please make checks payable to:
Redwood City Firefighters/PAL Toy and Book Drive
Redwood City Fire Station #9
755 Marshall Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
You could also have a holiday party that sponsors the toy and book drive. Ask the guests that attend your work or home party to bring a new unwrapped gift to the party. We will arrange to have a fire department representative attend the party to collect toys and give a description of what the program is about. If you're interesting in this option contact Justin Velasquez at (650)780-7400 or jvelasquez@redwoodcity.org
For more information go to the Redwood City Toy Drive web page.
The entire drive consists of a wrapping party, three delivery
nights and one day where Fire Station 9 is turned into a toy store
and families can “shop” for toys. About 100 families
visited last year. This years wrapping party will be on December 13th from 5p.m. until finished at Red Morton Community Center (1120 Roosevelt Ave./Redwood City).
*The Fair Oaks Community Center is a multi-service facility located
on the border of Redwood City and Unincorporated North Fair Oaks.
The Center provides emergency and other direct services to primarily
low income families in the area - including, but not limited to
housing assistance, emergency food, shelter referrals, crisis intervention,
client advocacy, immigration and citizenship assistance, legal assistance,
and counseling. The community center additionally houses a childcare
center and senior center program.
95% of the families receiving gifts from the Toy Drive earn less
than the equivalent of $30,550 for a family of 4. Most live in apartments,
trailers, in-law units, studio apartments, or garages.
9-1-1 Memorial Stair Climb
On Saturday Sept. 10, 2011, Redwood City Fire Dept is hosting a 9/11 memorial stair climb at 300 Oracle Parkway Ca. 94065 at 9am.
We are asking 343 Firefighters from all over the state to climb 110 floors (untimed) wearing only their turnout jacket, t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes (helmet optional). These Firefighters will wear one of the names of the fallen 343 FDNY and later place it on a memorial then head onto Milagros restaurant…
This is not only a memorial for the fallen 343, but it is the 10th anniversary for the family and friends left behind.
All are welcome to support those along with bagpipers, photographers and news media.
For more information e-mail Mickey Noack or call (408)205-5521. You can also check out the website:
www.redwood-city911stairclimb.com
Hope you're there because..."WE WILL NEVER FORGET"
150th Anniversary
The Redwood City Firefighters and Fire Chief Jim Skinner would like to invite you to our two remaining events of the year marking our 150th Anniversary Celebrations. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Plaque Dedication
October 6th, 2011
10am
Fire Station 9
755 Marshall Street
Redwood City, Ca 94063
Four Alarm Celebration
featuring music from Pride & Joy
November 4th, 2011
8pm
The Fox Theatre
2215 Broadway Street
Redwood City, 94063
For more information, please contact Jerry Pera at jpera@redwoodcity.org. We are very excited about both events and hope you will be able to join us in celebrating 150 years of service to the community!
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