Firefighters Cookin' Up Breakfast, Chicken Dinner at Summerfest Saturday

Instead of fighting fire, the will use it to satisfy the tummies and taste buds of more than 1,000 people at Summerfest Saturday.

Saturday morning, at the fire department, firefighters will hold an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. For $5, patrons will receive pancakes, sausages and a drink.

The breakfast, served from 7 to 10 a.m., raises money for the Saline Area Firefighters Association, which will use proceeds to help fund a DARE outing, a little league baseball team and other community initiatives.

After breakfast, the firefighters take their act to the parking lot behind Benny’s Bakery, where they will be busy grilling for the fourth annual chicken broil, served from noon to 6 p.m. For $8, patrons will receive a half chicken, coleslaw, radishes, dinner rolls and chips. The dinners can also be purchased in a to-go box.

The popular event attracts more and more people each year.

“The first year, we cooked up 300 chickens. Then we did 500. Last year we cooked 750 chickens. We sold out each year. So this year, we’re doing 1,000,” said Fire Chief Craig Hoeft.

Deputy Chief Charles Schaible built a portable grill that the department will use at the event.

Proceeds go to the Friends of the Saline Area Fire Department, which has raised $11,000 toward the purchase of a new all-terrain-vehicle for the department.

“It’s something that we can use for wild land firefighting or to haul patients who are injured in off-road situations,” Hoeft said. “With budgets the way they are, it’s not something high on the list that we’d be able to purchase anytime soon. So we’re glad to raise money at the breakfast and chicken broil, because it’s something good for the community and we have fun doing it.”

Hoeft will be happy to see his breakfast customers joint him again at lunch.

“You can come on down to the fire hall Saturday, eat breakfast, go run the 5K, go home and shower up, and then come on back for the chicken broil and then sit at the beer tent and watch music the rest of the day,” Hoeft said.

For more on Saline Summerfest, visit the official website.