Local firefighters will be practising safe grilling Friday as they serve up lunch in support of a provincial charity.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m,. members of Prince George Fire Rescue will host a barbecue in at the front door of Hall 1 beside City Hall to raise money for the B.C. Professional Firefighters' Burn Fund.
This marks the fifth year that local firefighters have put on the barbecue, which typically brings in a couple thousand dollars, said firefighter Paul Knudsgaard. For $5, supporters can get a lunch of a burger, pop and chips as well as tours of the fire trucks.
The money collected through the barbecue is just one part of the firefighters' charitable efforts.
"We raise roughly $10,000 [annually] through a number of events for the burn fund," Knudsgaard said.
Established in 1978, the charity supports burn victims and work that raises awareness about fire and burn safety issues.
A portion of the dollars go towards funding a research unit in Vancouver where burn patients from across the province go to receive treatment.
"In addition to that, the burn fund also funds an annual kids camp, a week-long camp for kids who are burned where pro firefighters work with the kids and help them overcome and learn to cope with some of the effects of some severe burn issues," Knudsgaard said.
Along with raising money, P.G. firefighters also engage in burn prevention activities, such as those linked with the upcoming Fire Prevention Week Oct. 6 to 12. Their fire prevention public education branch also works with schools throughout the city to teach kids tips to avoid becoming burn fund clients.
