Colorado firefighters will be honored this September during a new week-long tribute called Firefighter Appreciation Week, culminating in a one-day festival in downtown Boulder.
Firefighter Appreciation Week will run from Sept. 8-Sept. 15, and end with the Fight Fire With Beer Festival on Sept. 15 on Boulder’s 29th Street shopping center .
The events – intended to be observed annually – were created to honor the firefighters currently risking their lives battling fires across Colorado and to raise money and support for Colorado fire departments.
David Clark, a Boulder resident and the founder of cause-marketing firm David Clark Cause, said the events also provide a way for Colorado residents to say “thank you” to firefighters.
At the festival, local brewers will be asked to participate in a competition called the Fight Fire With Beer Governor’s Cup, which will be judged by Gov. John Hickenlooper and Colorado fire chiefs.
The winning brewery will have the honor of creating the “Official” Fight Fire With Beer beer, which will be featured in bars and restaurants and made available for retail sale the entire year.
Hickenlooper said in a statement that he, as well as all Coloradans, want to thank “the brave firefighters who are putting themselves in harm’s way by battling the High Park Fire and other fires in the state.”
“We are pleased and proud to support Firefighter Appreciation Week and hope every Coloradan honors those who put their lives on the line to protect us,” said Hickenlooper.
Steve Kurowski, spokesman for the Colorado Brewers Guild which represents 85 breweries in Colorado, said in a statement the guild is encouraging every brewery to show their support “of the brave men and women firefighters by participating in the Fight Fire With Beer Governor’s Cup.”
Proceeds of the festival will be donated to meet the material needs of firefighters across Colorado, and to educate the public about fire safety so the chance of fire is minimized.
The official website for the appreciation week and festival is:
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com on twitter @HowardPankratz
