Firehouse Chicken Dinner Aug. 10 at Saline Summerfest

Why did 550 chickens cross Michigan Avenue? Well, if you’re a vegetarian, you might not like the answer to Fire Chief Craig Hoeft’s riddle.

Local firefighters and their friends hold the annual Firehouse Chicken dinner Saturday Aug. 10 at Saline Summerfest.

For $9, people can buy a half-chicken, barbecued on site in Deputy Chief Charles Schaible’s custom-made cooker, radishes, a roll from Benny’s, coleslaw and a bag of chips. The fire department is also selling water.

The sale begins at 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot beside Benny’s. Folks who want chicken-to-go can order by driving up to the tent on Michigan Avenue near “the pit.” The sale continues until about 5:30 or 6 p.m., or whenever the firefighters run out of chicken or steam. People are free to sit an enjoy their chicken dinner while watching the entertainment on the Summerfest music stage or while taking a break from the Summerfest Street Machines car show, the craft show or kids activities.

Back to the original riddle: Why did 550 chickens cross Michigan Avenue? To help Saline’s firefighters battle blazes.

Proceeds from the Firehouse Chicken Dinner go to the Friends of the Saline Area Fire Department. Last year, after years of chicken dinners and fundraisers, the Friends helped the department purchase an off-road vehicle. This year, the Friends begin fundraising efforts to help the department purchase thermal imaging cameras.

“The cameras help us see fire in walls or in smoky areas. We have one now, but it’s several years old and, like an old computer, it becomes obsolete over time,” Chief Craig Hoeft said. “We’re looking to buy three of them. They run about $6,000 each. Counting by chickens, that’s about three years of chicken dinners.”

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