Help Santee Firefighters 'Fill The Boot' For San Diego's Burn Institute

SANTEE, CA — Hundreds of San Diego County firefighters will trade emergency calls for collection boots Thursday to help raise funds for the Burn Institute.

Firefighters will be stationed at intersections across the county during the morning and afternoon commutes for the 27th annual Firefighter Boot Drive, which raises money for burn survivor programs and prevention education efforts.

Nearly 30 departments are slated to take part in the annual drive, with most participating on Thursday and other departments participating on March 11 and March 19.

The Santee Fire Department is scheduled to participate on March 11.

"The annual firefighter boot drive is instrumental in the Burn Institute's ability to serve our region," Peter Callstrom, executive director of the Burn Institute, told Patch.

Donations will support the San Diego-based organization's programs such as Camp Beyond the Scars, a free summer camp for burn-injured children. Other services include Fire Safe Seniors, which provides free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to seniors, and Fire Safe Kids, an in-school education program.

"We are so thankful to have the extraordinary support of our firefighters throughout the year as we collaborate on fire and burn prevention efforts, including educating 50,000 kids, youth fire-setter intervention, free summer camp for burn injured children, and smoke alarms for seniors," Callstrom said.

More than 400 firefighters take part in the Burn Institute's annual Firefighter Boot Drive. The drive is the organization's largest fundraiser, Callstrom said.

Last year, the Burn Institute raised $215,000 during the drive. The organization aims to raise $225,000 this year, according to Callstrom.

Anyone who doesn't see a firefighter on their commute can still make a donation online.

These are the fire departments scheduled to participate:

March 5

Alpine Fire
Barona Fire
CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire
Chula Vista Fire
Encinitas Fire
Escondido Fire
General Dynamics NASSCO Fire
Heartland Fire (El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove)
Imperial Beach Fire
La Jolla Reservation Fire
Lakeside Fire
Pala Fire
Pauma Reservation Fire
Poway Fire
San Diego Fire
Solana Beach Fire
Sycuan Fire
Valley Center Fire
Viejas Fire

March 11

Bonita-Sunnyside Fire
Carlsbad Fire
Coronado Fire
North County Fire & Fallbrook Firefighters
Oceanside Fire
Rancho Santa Fe Fire
Santee Fire
Vista Fire

March 19

Miramar Fire & Miramar College Fire Academy