Over 100 fashion show enthusiasts and fire department supporters attended the 13th annual MiWuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District (MSPFPD) auxiliary fashion show on Friday April 29, 2016.

“This is our largest fund raiser of the year,” said Sue Crabtree, auxiliary member and wife of MSPFPD Chief Larry Crabtree. 

According to Crabtree the sole function of the 200 plus members of the 501(c)3 auxiliary is to provide support for the fire district. 

“Without them we would have a lot less of the equipment we really need,” said MSPFPD Captain James Klyn. 

The theme for the 13th annual MSPFPD fashion show was California Dreamin’. 

Each of the thirteen tables was decorated by an auxiliary member who “adopted” a table and created a one-of-a-kind centerpiece for their table. The creative center pieces ranged from the Calaveras County Frog Jump to San Francisco Giants, the Goldrush to Christmas in the Sierras. 

The buffet table was a sea of homemade salads to excite the palette, each carefully crafted by auxiliary members.

Fashions were provided by Sharon Malone Lingerie located on South Washington Street in downtown Sonora.

As the show came to a close a few of the brave firefighters on duty modeled equipment purchased with funds raised from years before; wildland gear, structure gear, uniforms and hazardous material gear.

Last year the auxiliary raised over $30,000 to help offset costs of fire department equipment and supplies.

While a decision has yet to be made how the funds raised this year will be spent Klyn hopes some of the funds will be utilized to purchase additional Personal Protection Equipment (PPE’s) to outfit more volunteer firefighters. PPE’s are the structure gear the firefighters wear when fighting a structure fire and also the bright yellow wildland gear they wear to fight wildland fires.  According to Klyn, the PPE’s carry a cost of $3,000 to $5,000 a set.

PPE’s are a priority yet Klyn has other items on his wish list. “My personal feeling is that our district could benefit greatly by purchasing a thermal imaging camera,” said Klyn, “as well as replace some of our older tools.”

MSPFPD paid and volunteer firefighters respond to an extensive array of calls from wilderness medical and fire calls to structure fire and medical aides. 

Medical aide calls make up a large percentage of the emergencies the MSPFPD respond to each year. “Each of our volunteers is, at the very least, a certified medical first responder, while many are emergency medical responders,” said Klyn. 

If you would like more information about the MiWuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District and/or its auxiliary please call the office at 586-5256. Auxiliary meetings are held once a month the second Wednesday at noon at the fire station. 

Photos by Charity Lynn (Maness)