Belmont-San Carlos Fire Station Contributes to Fundraising Relay

A fleet of fire engines made its way from Moffett Field to San Francisco Friday with a stop at Belmont-San Carlos Fire Station No. 13 in a relay to collect funds for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.

Antique and modern emergency vehicles from 17 fire departments and the California Highway Patrol participated in the relay, which visits 17 stations between Sunnyvale and San Francisco, foundation spokesman Evan Scher said.

Funds that firefighters have raised at events throughout the year are collected at each of the stops.

The caravan began in Santa Clara County, then swung by Menlo Park Fire Station No. 1 in time for a coffee break. Then the eye-grabbing lineup moved on to Redwood City Fire Station No. 9, Belmont-San Carlos and Foster City Fire Station No. 28.

After a lunch break, the cheerful fundraisers stopped at San Mateo Fire Station No. 21, Millbrae Fire Station No. 37, San Bruno No. 51, South San Francisco headquarters and Daly City, North County and Colma, where participants celebrated with an ice cream break before roaring into San Francisco.

Peninsula fire departments hold a range of yearly fundraising activities culminating in Friday's relay, including pancake breakfasts, softball tournaments, T-shirt sales, and fire engine ride-alongs, Scher said. Last year's Peninsula Firefighters Burn Relay raised around $40,000 for the Alisa Ann Rich Burn Foundation, which provides treatment and rehabilitation services for burn victims and promotes burn prevention education for kids.

The relay finished at 5 p.m. at the San Francisco Fire Department Division of Training at Folsom and 19th streets.

— Bay City News Service