“Fill the Boot for Burns” Boot Drive supports new UC Davis Regional Burn Center

Firefighters volunteering to “Fill the Boot for Burns” at Sunrise Mall February 17-20 will be collecting donations to support the construction of the new UC Davis Regional Burn Center.

Firefighters have pledged to raise $1 million toward the construction of the new burn center. Since 1973, firefighters have had a close connection with the medical center. Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522 founded the Firefighters Burn Institute (FFBI) non-profit to establish the first burn unit in Sacramento and continues to purchase medical equipment, fund burn research and award educational scholarships to burn unit medical staff. Assuring the availability of state-of-the-art burn care and recovery programs is the Firefighters Burn Institute’s primary mission.

During President’s Day weekend, more than 200 off-duty firefighters from Sacramento City, Metro, Folsom, and other local fire departments will volunteer their time collecting donations in their fire boots at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane at Sunrise Mall to “Fill the Boot for Burns” and raise funds for the new burn center.

Captain Tony Davis, Boot Drive Coordinator for the Roseville firefighters, said, “Firefighters are just one layer of protective clothing away from being burn survivors themselves.” Sacramento’s new regional burn center is scheduled to open in 2009 and will serve burn patients throughout Northern California.

All proceeds from the “Fill the Boot for Burns” Boot Drive fundraiser benefits the Firefighters Burn Institute, founded by firefighters more than 30 years ago, after a fiery airplane crash into a Farrell’s ice cream parlor killed Sacramento City firefighter Gene LaVine and eight members of his family. In addition to providing financial support for the new burn unit, donations will be used to improve burn treatment, fund adult and youth burn recovery programs, including Firefighters Kids Camp for young burn survivors, and support burn and fire prevention outreach programs.

The “Fill the Boot for Burns” Boot Drive will be held at Sunrise Mall during daylight hours beginning Friday, February 17, at noon and ending Monday, February 20, at 4 p.m.