Smokin’ chicken BBQ to support the Schell-Vista Volunteer Firefighters Association

This Annual Chicken BBQ draws in a crowd from near and far and there is no need to worry about BBQ safety in this case!

This major fundraiser raises money to support the Schell-Vista Volunteer Firefighters Association and has been running for as long as any of the firefighters can remember.

The money raised is crucial to the association because volunteers need to take classes which the money funds as it is a non-profit association. The full-time firefighters are like the professionals in the field and the volunteers need to be trained in. However, “once they put on the uniform, there is no difference. We are all firefighters,” said Chief Ray Mulas, a Chief at the station who has been at Schell-Vista for over 50 years.

The money raised also goes toward the purchase of new equipment and fixing parts when they break in order to help prepare for fire season.

The event draws in thousands of people of all ages each year and ran from noon to 6 p.m on July 16. This is an experience that people look forward to all year as there is so much joy in the air as the community recognizes the hard work of the fire department and sees familiar faces.

“It just screams local in every way,” said firefighter Tony Moll.

There are seven barbecues running with many volunteers flipping chickens and making sides. All dishes are house made and the secret sauce is a recipe only shared with the firefighters who have been working for a long time. This special sauce drizzled on the chickens is a delicious mystery to most.

They order ingredients, including over 1500 half chickens, from Broadway Market, and all of them are eaten.

“It is a labor of love of an event,” said Moll.

You can reach Index-Tribune Intern Mia Epstein at mia.epstein@sonomanews.com.