CENTER – On Saturday, March 7, the Center Fire Department was surrounded by many vehicles, as about 60 people were in line to be a part of the Center Fire Department’s Barbecue Fundraiser and pie auction that the department hosts every 2 years.

Just inside the fire department, the aroma of barbecue brisket wafted heavily through the air, as members of the fire department happily took donations into their fire hats, while people lined up to serve themselves the tasty dinner.

The fire house was lined up on one side with tables, and many people could be seen sitting and talking while enjoying their meal and enjoying the time they were spending with others inside the firehouse. There were door prizes given out including half a lamb and a quarter of beef.

Center Fire Department Chief Russell Brown was also at the dinner and stated that it was going well and he was happy so many people had come out to support the Fire Department, “This is our big fundraiser for the Center fire department. We do this maybe every couple of years, or whenever we can. The reason we have this fundraiser is to help us get new equipment for our fire department, and to help fix our fire trucks, and for other things that the department may need.  We usually have about 250 to 300 people attending the fundraiser, and we really appreciate everyone who comes out to help us with this. We appreciate Darrel Plane who is our auctioneer tonight. We are serving brisket, pulled pork, macaroni and cheese and beans for everyone. The community has always supported us really well and we also have a pie auction going on tonight too.”

Many people could be heard at the dinner participating in the pie auction and there were also kids who could be seen running around and smiling at the dinner too.

The Center Fire Department wishes to thank all of its firefighters for what they do, everyone who came out to the dinner, everyone who helped with the dinner and all of the donors who donated for the dinner including, Builders Edge, Bobolicous Coffee, Skyline Metal, Mathias Concrete, Rocky Mountain Home Supplies, The Gunbarrel Station, Salida Gun Shop, Sand Dunes Swimming, the Rio Grande Club, The Monte Vista Golf Course, Cattails Golf Course, Jones Oil Company, Hayden Cattle Company, Vernon Coblentz, Cooley and Sons, Poole Chemical, MV Coop, and Rio Grande Bank.