craigdailypress.com

Craig firefighters plan to light a blaze under the feet of community members at the annual firefighters ball Saturday night.

Although tickets for the annual event have been sold out, people may be allowed into the party at the Holiday Inn during non-peak times of the event, Fire Chief Chris Nichols said.

The dance, which butts up against one performance of the annual Kiwanis play, gets hopping soon after the play lets out, he said.

"We're looking forward to a night of dancing and entertainment," Nichols said.

But the firefighters' ball is more than a party, firefighter Sue Garrett said. It's the only time of year that firefighters raise money for student scholarships and a victims' relief fund.

The department offers a scholarship for a graduating senior planning to head into an emergency worker related field.

Firefighters also donate money to some victims who have been burned out of their homes to help them get back on their feet.

"It's the way we raise money," Garrett said, "It's a good way for people to participate. I don't know if everybody realizes that we do that."

Firefighters will be dressed in their formal uniforms, but there is no general dress code for the public.

Dress for the event includes formal attire and jeans, Nichols said.

Firefighters have been putting on the ball for as long as the department has records, or since about the 1920s, Nichols said. But, even during the past 20 years that Nichols has attended the event, it's almost always inevitable that firefighters are called out to respond to an emergency.

To battle that likelihood, a crew is chosen in advance that will answer calls for the night.

"We're prepared to have the crew leave the dance floor," Nichols said.

"Luckily, in the past we haven't had to have the whole (department) respond. Typically, it's not uncommon to have to respond to something."