Ronan firefighters help Santa pass out presents
Santa Claus hands a boy in Ronan a present, with members of the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo provided)
Fire engines made their way around Ronan on Wednesday, Dec. 20, but the firefighters inside weren’t patrolling for fire.
Ronan Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Clary explained that firefighters were with Santa and Mrs. Claus, passing out gifts to children in a procession.
The tradition began with “just a couple of guys who decided to do it” about 15 years ago, Clary said.
Each year, about 10 firefighters make it each year to the parade.
“(The volunteer firefighters) pitch in, donating money to get kids Christmas presents who don’t have a lot,” he explained.
This year, firefighters donated more than $500 of their own money to go toward the presents.
School counselors and teachers at the Ronan School District help coordinate the yearly event, by making a list and checking it twice.
Clary said that once the list of students is made, the counselors, teachers and firefighters’ wives help Santa and go shopping, wrap the presents and the firefighters deliver the gifts with Santa.
Clary explained “these are the types of guys who give back to the community by being on the department,” and taking it a step further, they try to make the season a little brighter with the “tradition.”
The Ronan Volunteer Fire Department has 35 volunteer firefighters, and operate out of a station in Pablo and another in Ronan.