Burn Bulletin

On September 8th, we paid tribute to Alisa Ann in honor of her birthday. While her life tragically ended too soon, her legacy lives on through the work of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. Since 1971, AARBF has worked to support burn survivors and their families through camps and recreation activities like Champ Camp, the Young Adult Summit, and the Adult Retreat, as well as offering essential services like support groups, peer-to-peer counseling, the James Bosch Therapy Grant, and community support opportunities. Alisa’s spirit continues to shine in the connections made, friendships built, and the burn survivors we support. 

On Tuesday, September 15th, AARBF attended the Central California Women’s Conference. Katrina, our Associate Director, and Erika, our Camps and Recreation Manager, had the opportunity to represent AARBF, connect with community members, and share more about the programs and support available to burn survivors and their families.

The conference was a great opportunity to build connections, raise awareness about AARBF’s mission, and engage with women from across the Central California community. We are grateful to have been part of such a meaningful event and to continue creating connections that help strengthen the communities we serve.

On Friday, September 18th, Associate Director, Katrina joined the members of the NorCal Fire Protection Officers for their Annual Golf Tournament in Fairfield, CA. The tournament raises funds for AARBF’s Champ Camp as well as the Firefighters Burn Institute. We are honored to be recognized for the work AARBF does to support burn survivors and to partner with Prevention Officers working toward a safer California.

On September 19th, AARBF joined the Sanger community for National Night Out. Our volunteers Meemee, Lonestar, and Droplet hosted the AARBF table, connected with local families, and shared important burn prevention and fire safety information.

Throughout the event, they helped spread the “Stop, Drop, and Roll” message and encouraged families to continue practicing burn prevention and safety at home. We are grateful to Meemee, Lonestar, and Droplet for representing AARBF and helping us continue educating and connecting with the communities we serve.

Thank you to everyone who came out on September 26th to support AARBF’s programs and services through the annual Dinner & Dance in Clovis.

This event would not be possible without our sponsors:

Gold Level

CALFIRE Benevolent Fund

Community Regional Medical Center

Silver Level

Fresno Firefighters, Local 202

PolyNovo

Wonder Valley Ranch Resort

Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union

Central Valley Trailer Repair, Inc

Leon S Peters Burn Center

Beer Sponsor

Riley’s Brewing Co

We’d also like to thank our fabulous staff and event volunteers Katrina Arthur, Michael Knopf, Erika Mendoza, Marissa McCallough, cadets from the Fresno City College Fire Academy Class 66, cadets from the Fresno City College EMT, and members of PINC – Fresno.

Watch for this event to return on September 25, 2027.

AARBF is proud to welcome the Hanford Fire Department and Hanford Elementary School District as our newest members of the Firefighters In Safety Education (FISE) program. This partnership will bring Fire and Burn Prevention Education to over 4,400 Hanford students in TK through 6th grade. Covering Stop, Drop, & Roll, how to dial 911 and what to do in case of a burn, AARBF’s FISE offers students and families valuable lessons and practical tools to help them be prepared in case of emergencies.

If you would like to bring FISE to your school, please visit our Burn Prevention page.

We are proud to recognize Cameron Rodlin for his nearly 18 years of involvement with AARBF. Cameron first became involved with the Burn Relay at just 10 years old, taking the day to ride along with his dad and longtime Relay Coordinator, Brian Leathers. What started as a childhood experience has grown into a lasting commitment to supporting the burn survivor community. 

As Cameron pursued a career in the fire service, he continued his involvement with the Relay through the Templeton Fire Department. In 2025, he stepped into the role of Relay Coordinator and has continued leading those efforts ever since. In just two years of leadership, Cameron has helped raise more than $27,000 in support of burn survivors and their families.

Held during Fire Prevention Week, the Burn Relay continues to be the only relay of its kind that incorporates burn prevention education alongside its fundraising efforts. Cameron takes great pride in carrying on this long-standing tradition and is dedicated to seeing it continue to grow, bringing more awareness, education, and support to the communities it serves. 

His passion, leadership, and commitment to keeping this tradition alive reflect the true spirit of volunteerism. We are grateful for his continued support and the meaningful impact he makes on our burn survivor community. 

Join us in thanking Cameron for his dedication to AARBF and the burn survivor community. 

Watch our social media for 2027 applications for camps and recreational programming opening soon. Please note the application deadlines, as some of these have changed from past years.