Barbecue heats up Sunday

Residents of Rollins are busy this week preparing for one of the premier social events of the summer for the West Shore.

This Sunday's 33rd annual Buffalo & Turkey Barbeuce is expected, as usual, to draw about 1,000 people to the area.

"It's the biggest social event of the year," event spokesperson Jim Hollensteiner said.

The barbecue, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., serves as the community's main fundraiser for the Rollins Volunteer Fire Department.

Those who know the event well are already smacking their lips in anticipation for the tried-and-true pit-barbecuing of two different meats in addition to corn on the cob, brownies and lemonade. The much-anticipated event tends to be a draw both for its food as well as its company. The setting and weather typical of the end of July also help.

"The sun always shines on the last day of July," Hollensteiner said. "It's a nice way to entertain your summer guests. Don't cook. Bring them to the barbecue."

As always, the Women of Rollins Club will be again raffling off a quilt, which was on display at Saturday's Lakeside Community Fair.

Advance tickets and quilt raffle tickets are available at Points North and M & S Meats in Rollins. Event tickets purchased in advance are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. Children under 5 eat for free as guests of the Rollins' community. Tickets at the door are $14 for adults and $7 for children. The event takes place at Rollins School on Methodist Camp Road.

It takes the help of about 100 volunteers to put on the annual barbeuce and help is always needed.

DEPARTMENT

The barbecue usually brings in roughly $10,000 to help the department with equipment needs and general maintenance.

The department's resources include a structure engine, a water tenderer, three wildland trucks, and a suburban that hauls traffic control pieces like cones and signs.

Some of barbecue funds will be used for training and technology needs. One of the wildland trucks also used as a water tenderer is on slate to be refurbished, in addition to general maintenance on all fire department supplies and equipment, Fire Chief Terry Gore said.

Some of the technology at the department, Gore said, is a little dated.

"We're finally starting to put in overhead electric garage doors," he said.

It's hoped that project will be done before fall.

But, perhaps an even bigger need for the department than funds is volunteers. Like many fire departments and volunteer organizations, memberships is down for the Rollins Fire Department. About six people participate heavily in department activities. That number even dips during the day as several go off to work in Kalispell or Polson. The department has another roughly 10 volunteers who help with traffic control and support work.

"Luckily Polson, Chief Cliff and Somers/Lakeside have helped pick up the slack," Gore said. "We pretty much automatically call mutual aid."

Gore, who returned as chief a year ago, recalls that during his 10-year prior span as chief in the late 80s and early 90s, the department had about 20 firefighter volunteers.

"Many retired, but there's no real younger population to pull from," he said.

The department's primary calls are to help land ALERT Helicopters or help with traffic control at accidents along U.S. Highway 93. Rollins firefighters did have one fire to respond to this winter. The department services some 500 pieces of real estate in the greater Rollins area.

For more information or to volunteer, call 844-2427.