Volunteers raise nearly $30,000 for department

ST. IGNATIUS — Fire trucks, water slides, carnival games, and a barbecue dinner were just a few of the attractions in St. Ignatius last Saturday.

It was all fun and games for a good cause at the 19th Annual Firemen’s Picnic, with donations and volunteers coming from near and far to support the event. The event included local celebrities from the University of Montana Grizzlies football and UM Dance teams, UM mascot Monte, and Miss Northwest Montana.

Volunteer Dolly Frey said friends and family came from Washington, Canada, some even as far as New Zealand to help with the event.  

“Firemen and their family and friends work amazingly hard to put this on,” Frey said.

Donations for the live and silent auctions came from all over the state and as far away as Seattle, with nearly 150 items in each auction. The fire department also sold raffle tickets for an Arctic Cat Prowler 550. A winner will be drawn once 500 tickets have been sold.  

Their hard work pays off.  Every fourth Saturday in June, the fire department typically brings in around $40,000 from the picnic, which buys new trucks, infrared cameras and equipment for the St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire Department.  

Dinner began at 2 p.m., served by Boy Scouts, firemen and other volunteers. Tickets for the dinner were $8 for a single and $25 for a family, granting them an all-access pass to a menu comprised of beef, pork, turkey, several potato salads, baked beans, hot dogs, popcorn, soda, coleslaw and ice cream. Mitchell said local businesses and residents donated nearly 50 percent of the food.

While the silent auction continued throughout the day, the live auction began at 4 p.m. A painted saw blade and base donated by Ray Frey and Dave Samuelson ended up with the largest price, selling for a whopping $1,000.

Tim Mitchell, one of the events founders, said he came up with the idea for the event about 23 years ago while he and his family were driving though northern Wisconsin.  He said they drove past a firemen’s picnic and he decided his department needed to hold one of its own.

“Our goal is to never ask the taxpayers for any more money,” Mitchell said. “That’s our goal, raising it ourselves.”

Following in the family tradition, Mitchell’s son Joseph began volunteering with the fire department four years ago, but said he has helped with the picnic since the beginning.

Last year the fire department fed almost 800 people, Joseph said.  Planning for the next year’s picnic begins right after the event, with a meeting to see what can be done better for the next year.

This year’s event raked in around $30,000 and fed nearly 700 people.  Joseph said this year’s picnic was a success.

“The weather cooperated and the community supported us,” Joseph said. “It was just a good day.”

Raffle tickets for the Arctic Cat Prowler are still on sale and can be purchased by calling 745-4190, 745-4266 or through any member of the volunteer fire department.

To view more photos from this event and others, visit the Leader's gallery.