Plateau firefighters light up stage for cause

Three local men were among the 10 up for bid at the 2009 “Light My Fire” firefighter auction and concert March 14 in Auburn.

The firemen helped raise $12,149 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, nearly twice the amount generated at last year’s event.

Successful bidders received a four-hour date or four hours of labor, with money going to the society.

Among those on the auction block were Bonne Lake resident Keith Howard, 54, a captain with the Port of Seattle Fire Department; Seth Maxwell of Enumclaw, 29, a firefighter with the Burien Fire Department; and Mason Lewis of Puyallup, 28, a firefighter/paramedic with East Pierce Fire and Rescue.

Event organizer Linda Kent, a Bonney Lake resident, was surprised at the amount raised.

“I was stunned that we doubled our fundraising again in this economy,” she said. “Firefighters are such a supportive group – it’s incredible. And talk about brave. It takes lots of guts to get up in front of a crowd and get auctioned off for four hours of your time.”

Howard was auctioned off for $250, Maxwell for $175 and Lewis $200.

The highest auction bid was $6,000 for Jennifer Dixon of Graham, 25, an emergency room nurse for Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup.

Event supporter Bill Hagstotz of BHPimages.com donated photo services.

Ron Mariotti of the Enumclaw Sales Pavilion served as auctioneer.

“It really helps to have someone who knows what they’re doing up there,” Kent said.

More than 70 items were donated for the event’s silent auction and two of the auction sponsors are still raising funds. BHPimages.com has posted event photos on its Web site and will donate a portion of the proceeds from each image purchased.ProfessionalUnionFirefighter.com is donating money from T-shirt sales.

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