Firefighters have successful Fill the Boot campaign

The Local 601 of the International Association of Fire Fighters hit the streets Friday during Festival Days, raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, holding their boots out and asking for people to help.

Local 601 Vice President Cody McLain said they did very well this year, and there are still opportunities for the community to donate in the following weeks.

Some businesses are partnering with the firefighters for the Fill the Boot fundraiser, such as Pizza Hut Thursday, Oct. 11.

McLain said even if people didn't get a chance to see the firefighters Friday, boots were placed around town during the weekend for people to donate in such as at Old Station Brewing Co., Triple Dog Brewing Co., Oxford Bar and Palace Bar.

Local 601 President Chance Ophus said those boots would be picked up Monday, but more fundraising opportunities may be available around town in the next couple of weeks.

Members of the international firefighters union have been holding a fundraiser for the MDA since 1954. MDA funds research and provides services for people who suffer from muscular dystrophy.

"We do this by finding research breakthroughs across diseases, caring for kids and adults from day one and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America," the MDA website said.

In 2016 the Havre firefighters union local raised more than $14,000, McLain said, and added that he believes they did even better this year.

Ophus said that the event was canceled last year due to the East Fork Fire in the Bear Paw Mountains.

Even though the MDA has a national presence and offer services all over the county, none of the money will go anywhere but to Montanans, Ophus added. The money raised in Havre for the Fill the Boot will stay in Montana.

Ophus said he wanted to thank the community for coming out and supporting the Fill the Boot event, adding that the community was very generous this year.

McLain said the union was very grateful to the community and to Bear Paw Volunteer Fire Department, which had firefighters there Friday in support.

Bear Paw Volunteer Fire Department has been working side-by-side with Havre firefighters in the Fill the Boot campaign for the past six years, Bear Paw Fire Chief Josh Bebee said, adding that it is a good cause and his department was glad to help.

Bebee said the Bear Paw department got involved because one of the firefighters in the department has two daughters with muscular dystrophy.

He added that he wanted to thank the community members for their support.