On Thursday, May 13, 2010 and Friday, May 14, 2010, teams of firefighters from across the Portland-Metro area lit the court on fire participating in the 25^th Annual Fireman’s Ball Basketball Tournament.  This event is an annual fundraiser at the Salvation Army’s Moore Street Community & Worship Center in North Portland.

The Community & Worship Center first opened its doors in 1984, and Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) firefighters utilized the gym to play basketball and exercise. Soon, the idea of a firefighter basketball tournament formed to help raise money for the center’s programs and community events. The Center operates a year-round gym with open gym available to those in the community. The basketball tournament fundraising event idea came to fruition in the spring of 1986 with the first tournament which raised around $500.  Each year, the tournament has grown and added teams from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Gresham Fire, Clackamas Fire, Lake Oswego Fire, Vancouver Fire and Hillsboro Fire.  Firefighters organize and regulate the tournament and raise, on average, between $800 and $1,200.

This year, 70 to 80 firefighters competed in the basketball tournament. Locally, firefighters from seven different PF&R fire stations participated, including:

• Stations 1 and 23 combined
• Station 4
• Station 8
• Station 12 and 22
• Station 25  
• Firefighter Station Travelers

PF&R Fire Stations 8 and 25 ended up in the Championship Game, with Firehouse 8 wining and taking the crown!  Congratulations to all firefighters who participated!

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May 19, 2010