Marble Falls Fire Rescue getting soaked to help families of fallen firefighters
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — On June 28, you can buy a ticket for a chance to sink one of the Marble Falls Fire Rescue firefighters in a dunking booth. You know, one of those big ones filled with water.
Frigid water.
Because this is the Cold Water Challenge.
“The Cold Water Challenge is something that’s been going around the Internet quite a bit lately,” said Marble Falls Fire Rescue firefighter Sam Stacks. “What we’re doing is having something to benefit the Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force.”
With the death of Scenic Loop Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Scott Harshbarger during a structure blaze in the Livingston area, fire officials saw how tough it was on the man’s family and his department. So the idea to create a “strike team” that responds to a department that lost a member came about. This eventually evolved into the Texas LODD Task Force, which provides assistance to families and departments upon the death of a firefighter.
The task force is funded through donations and grants.
“Every dime we make goes to the organization,” Stacks said.
At least five members of Marble Falls Fire Rescue have committed to taking a seat in the dunking booth starting at 11 a.m. June 28. Stacks said he’s in as well as Chief Johnny Caraway. The event will take place at the fire department, 700 Ave. N.
“It will go until whenever we’re done and people stop coming,” Stacks said.
People can purchase tickets for a chance to dunk firefighters.
Along with the booth, Stacks said they hope to have some barbecue and sausage wraps available.
The event also has been catching fire across the Internet. People have been challenging others to have ice-cold water dumped on them for charity.
Already several area paramedics and others have accepted the challenge.
Call the fire department at (830) 693-4060 for more information. Go to texasloddtaskforce.com for more on the Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force.
daniel@thepicayune.com