Sanibel fire to take part in Lee County Chili Challenge
Eleven fire, EMS, police and military teams are preparing to face off and test their cooking skills in the Third Annual Lee County Chili Challenge, including one from the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District.
It will take place on Feb. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stu’s Motorcycles in Fort Myers.
Along with the Sanibel fire crew, teams are participating from the Fort Myers Fire Department, Lee County Emergency Medical Services, Marine Corps League, North Collier Fire Rescue District, Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Company from Asbury, New Jersey, Polish Legion of American Veterans, South Trail Fire District Benevolent Association, South Trail Fire Protection and Rescue Service District, Upper Captiva Fire Control District, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10097.
The teams will provide chili samples in the hopes of unseating the 2020 champion, the Fort Myers Fire Department — the event was not held last year — with the honor of acquiring and displaying the challenge’s traveling trophy. A team from Sanibel fire district won the first challenge, and at the second event the People’s Choice Award was added and earned by the South Trail district.
The judging team will be led by Mission BBQ Director of Operations Adam Palladino, and Mission BBQ is donating the testing kits for the challenge. The event will begin with a color guard, invocation, national anthem and a performance by the Guns n Hoses Pipes n Drums of SWFL.
Cost is $10 for a testing kit to sample chili; beverages will be available for a donation. Proceeds will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Injured Warriors Fund, and Collier-Lee Honor Flight.
There will also be raffle tickets for prizes.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/leecountychilichallenge.
Stu’s Motorcycles is at 14607 6 Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers.