Firefighters Savor Chance to Chat with Public as Event Raises $2,000

Fire Capt. Todd Nelson at Station 11 on Allison Avenue appreciated Sunday morning’s fifth annual pancake breakfast for reasons you might not suspect. Not just the turnout of close to 1,000. Not the 3,000 pancakes served or 2,200 sausages griddled.

It was the chance for firefighters to interact with La Mesans on a beautiful quiet morning, talking to residents on a low-stress morning instead of  responding on “the worst day of their lives,” Nelson said.

“It was pretty amazing,” he said Sunday afternoon of the four-hour breakfast, which netted $2,000 for the La Mesa Flag Day Parade.  “It was a really good time.”

The event by firefighters Local 4759 has been advertised in The Village for several weeks, and apparently the word got around. 

Residents came in droves, young and old—creating a long line for the $5 breakfast. 

One visitor  was a spry lady in her mid-90s who seemed to have a great time, and it appeared everyone else did, too.

“When I arrived about 8:45 a.m.” said local Realtor Charlotte Reed,  “there was already a big crowd of happy participants, babies and little children climbing on the fire trucks with the assistance of smiling firemen.”

Reed said  the line snaked around out into Allison Avenue “and only grew bigger as I ate my breakfast.  The weather was perfect for the event.”