BERLIN – Members of the Berlin Fire Company are hoping a new event will restore the organization’s standing in the community following several years of discord.
Now that the multimillion dollar harassment lawsuit against the fire company has been settled and its relationship with the Town of Berlin is on the mend following a temporary funding cut, the Berlin Fire Company (BFC) is hosting a “Pig Pickin’ and Clam Bake” May 14.
“It’s been a bad time,” fire company member John Holloway said. “We want to open our doors and invite the community in.”
Tickets to the event, which is set to take place at the fire house from 4-10 p.m., are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Attendees will be treated to pulled pork and side dishes as well as live music from Tranzfusion and beer from Burley Oak. Casino games, raffles and a Chinese auction will also be offered.
According to Holloway, the event is designed to serve two purposes. It’s meant to give the fire company a chance to improve its relationship with the community and at the same time raise money to help the organization pay for its new $800,000 ladder truck. The vehicle will replace one that’s been in service since the 1970s.
“It’s seen its lifespan come to an end,” Holloway said. “This’ll be a front-run piece. It’s a very versatile truck.”
Holloway said that though this is the first event the BFC has hosted in some time, officials are hoping for a good turnout. He says it’s unclear how many tickets have been sold already, as they’re being sold online as well as by fire company members. This is the first time the fire company has attempted selling tickets through its website, www.berlinfire.com.
“We capped it at 400,” Holloway said, “but tickets will be available at the door.”
The May 14 event is also the first for which the fire company has used sponsorships from local businesses to help put it on. Holloway credits staff at Burley Oak with guiding the BFC through the process. He’s optimistic that the event will give the organization’s reputation a boost.
“We’re trying to reconnect with the community,” he said. “The lawsuit is behind us and hopefully fences are being mended with the town. We had this stigma hanging over us the last several years but we’re still out there. We’re still serving and protecting the community.”
