Firefighters, helping out...

By Leslee Smith

North Whatcom Professional Firefighters IAFF Union 
Local 3867

We are a small union local comprised of 13 members from North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Services and three members from Whatcom County Fire District #8 (Marietta).

North Whatcom Professional Firefighters IAFF Union Local 3867 is committed to supporting our local community needs as well as other statewide and national charities. Our main state and national focus is the Muscular Dystrophy Association (this year we raised over $2,600) and our local focus is the Blaine Food Bank and our high school scholarship program.

Local 3867 members have been holding a food drive for the Blaine Food Bank since the beginning of December and have been able to contribute (as of December 9) over 750 pounds of food. In addition to the food drive our local is contributing $500 to the food bank. This group of dedicated individuals makes a difference in our community and our union members are proud to offer their support.

This year Kristina Francis was selected from several deserving applicants. She was awarded a $250 scholarship. She is attending Whitman College in Walla Walla.

Some other activities we have participated in this year:
• In March we supported firefighters efforts to climb the Columbia Tower in Seattle in the Annual Firefighters Columbia Tower Stairclimb Challenge. The firefighters successfully completed climbing 68 floors in full bunker gear and breathing apparatus. Our local contributed $120 to sponsor them and the monies went to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
• Tuesday April 13, Local 3867 members were on hand at Blaine elementary school to present a special award for “Outstanding Citizenship” to 10-year-old Halli Forsman. 
Personnel were on scene of a life threatening emergency involving Halli’s mother on February 11 and were impressed with Halli’s ability to remain calm and give important and accurate information to assist her mother which ultimately saved her life.
• This summer proved to be especially busy for our group. We held a car wash in July in cooperation with the Birch Bay Volunteer Firefighters Association and raised $750 to contribute to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). We then walked in the Blaine Old Fashioned Fourth of July Parade and raised another $500 to contribute to MDA. We had so much fun walking in the parade visiting and talking to our friends, neighbors and supporters! We followed this by collecting change from drivers during Birch Bay Discovery Days in the annual MDA “Give Burns The Boot” Drive at the intersection of Harborview and Birch Bay-Lynden roads. We raised over $1,700 in change during three hours!
• Cost Cutter manager Jim Deming was “jailed” in October as part of a fundraiser for MDA, so we helped out by posting “bail” for him in the amount of $100. The Mt. Baker Toppers offered to host two benefit concerts to help raise money for MDA. The concerts were held in Lynden and Bellingham on December 3 and 4 and we want to thank them for the donation of funds but also for the generous donation of their time and energy in helping this worthwhile cause.
• At least twice during the year we collect trash along Birch Bay-Lynden Road between Harborview and Blaine roads. We have collected several hundred pounds of trash from this section of roadway this year. It’s good exercise and our families often get involved in the clean up too!
• We believe that athletics and the arts for the children in our community are important. Each year we select a group to support and this year we selected the Blaine Boosters Club by purchasing space on the high school athletic calendar.
We are proud to serve this community and look forward to another year of assisting in these worthwhile causes and events!