Firefighters from Glendale’s Station #26 didn’t put out a fire — they started one. The blaze went up to cook a Polynesian feast at the Glendale home of Paula and Art Devine. For the last four years, the firefighters have bought the groceries, prepared the food, cooked it and served it for Glendale Healthy Kid’s largest, annual fundraiser of the year. This year’s theme was “A Polynesian Paradise.” On Saturday (July 14) a cool, balmy early evening brought out 75 supporters dressed in various forms of Polynesian attire and ready to party in the name of charity.
Joining the firefighters were 11 cadets from the Glendale Community College Verdugo Fire Academy. They assisted their “grown-up” counterparts in serving a banquet of ribs, chicken and rice, smothered in mangos. Among the cadets were Erin Chavez, Elena Lozano and Movces Akopian.
Chief cook and bottle washer was firefighter Mike Coley. The cost of the food and mai tais, light on the rum, came out of the firefighters’ own pockets through their Glendale Firefighters Club. Supervising the troops was Glendale Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. Wife Abigail was home with the kids. But Scoggins took time off to act as sommelier. He was chief pourer of fine wines donated by community volunteer extraordinaire John Simpson. Simpson also lent his crystal wine glasses to fancy-up the party. Table, chairs and Tiki torches were also generously donated by Sir Michael Party Rentals.
