October 2024 Burn Bulletin

The Paso Robles Firefighters Association hosted their annual 9/11 stair climb event this year on Saturday, September 14th. This year’s event was opened up to the local community and they had close to 60 people in attendance who climbed the equivalent of 110 stories at the Paso Robles Event Center. The 9/11 stair climb pays tribute to those heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day. This year, Paso Robles Firefighters found it truly special to engage with their local community members who walked side by side sharing this experience.

“This is our second annual 9/11 stair climb here in Paso Robles, put on by the Paso Robles Fire Association and assisted by the San Miguel Fire Association,” said Dustin Virgil, a firefighter paramedic for the City of Paso Robles Fire Department and the event organizer. “This year we are excited as we’ve opened it up to the public. Here we are 23 years later, still honoring them.”

The 9/11 stair climb event was also an opportunity for the Paso Robles Firefighters Association to raise funds for AARBF and Champ Camp. Their event will sponsor a child to attend our 40th Champ Camp being held in June of 2025.

The 14th Annual Dinner & Dance was a huge success – raising $51,000 for AARBF and Champ Camp in a single night. Our Central Valley Community gathered at the newly renovated Clovis Rodeo Grounds for an evening filled with good food, Valley Famous Cressman’s Cookies, a Silent Auction, and an exciting Live Auction. Volunteers from Clovis North Baseball, Girls Basketball, Fresno Fire Explorers, and the Fresno City College Fire Academy, Class 62 were all essential in helping set up and serve during the event. AARBF would like to thank all of our attendees and our Gold Sponsor: RMC Constructors; the Silver Sponsors: Fresno Fire Local 202, Central Valley Trailer Repair, and PolyNovo as well as our wine and beer sponsors Corner 103 and Summer Fox Brewing.

We hope to see you next year. Mark your Calendars now for November 22, 2025.

Check out all of the great photobooth photos in our Waldo photo album: https://waldo.photos/galleries/o/album/213ViE9E6wBmdGPZVGuFUNu

If you attended the Dinner & Dance, please upload your photos from this event.

On Friday, September 27, South San Francisco Firefighter’s Charitable Foundation hosted their 9th Annual Bocce Ball Tournament at the Orange Memorial Park Bocce Ball Courts. We had a great time. AARBF’s Daniel Chacon and volunteer Clark “Grizzy” Stern had a great time visiting with the teams and sharing information about the foundation! Proceeds from this event will benefit AARBF’s programs and services.

From September 28th to October 4th, AARBF had the amazing opportunity to send a teen Champ Camp camper and a counselor to attend the IAFF Burn Camp in Edgewater, MD.

This annual week-long camp, hosted by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), brings together burn survivor teens from all over the US and Canada. This year, our very own Alana and Blossom joined 40 other burn survivors and counselors for a week filled with confidence building and community bonding. They also had the chance to visit different historic sites in Washington D.C. and Annapolis.

Blossom, Alana and Alana’s mom shared their thoughts on this experience: “Being able to go to this camp and connect with people from all of the US and Canada to build new friendships and memories was truly an experience I won’t ever forget.” “We were truly honored and privileged to attend” “I am very grateful”.

This year, we are excited to announce our partnership with the SoCal Burn Ride. Join us, along with Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys for the ninth annual event which is a Texas Hold ‘Em style Poker Run happening on Saturday, October 26th, starting and ending in Thousand Oaks.

DATE: Saturday, October 26, 2024

LOCATION: Lakeside Pavillion, Conejo Creek North Park, 1379 E Janss Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

TIMES: 9AM Registration/ Opening Ceremonies

KSU: 10AM

Afterparty: 12PMGet your Rider, Passenger and After Party tickets at: www.socalburnride.com