Mapleton firefighters host pancake breakfast

MAPLETON – The Mapleton Fire Department anticipates about 1,000 people will attend the annual Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast at the four-bay Mapleton Fire Station, 305 N. Main.

They’ll be coming “from all over,” Mapleton Volunteer Fire Chief Neil Burt told Serve Daily.

The event takes place between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20. The department’s four vehicles will be stationed on the street – immediately ready in case an emergency call comes in – while the town’s two dozen volunteer firefighters prepare the meal inside the station.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time, at least 15 years,” Burt said.

Tables will be set up inside the station for people to sit, enjoy the food and fellowship, and to examine the 60 pounds of gear each firefighter wears, including insulated jackets, pants and gloves, helmets, face masks, air tanks, boots and more.

The $4/person, $20/family, meal consists of pancakes, eggs and ham, with orange juice and chocolate milk also on tap. Raffle tickets that cost $1 each also will be available. Prizes donated from individuals and local businesses will be given to those with winning tickets.

Previous prizes have included weekend in Las Vegas, tire alignment, potted plant and more.

“All the money raised goes to help people in need,” Burt said. “Medical bills, usually. Families having a hard time. … We hear about the needs by word of mouth.”

Mapleton’s volunteer firefighters train twice a month. Last year they went on 134 calls, including at least three house fires.

“We respond to car accidents too,” Burt said. “A lot of calls are for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide. We help other agencies too, Springville, Spanish Fork.”

Springville, which has full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters, gets about 2,000 calls a year for firefighter assistance, Lead Firefighter Allen Duke said.

The volunteer Spanish Fork Fire Department gets about 800, Fire Chief Brent Jarvis said.

Mapleton’s Fire Chief Neil Burt said he’s been a firefighter for 20 years because he sees his service as a way to “support the community. This is a great, small town community.”

The Mapleton branch of Central Bank is a primary sponsor of the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast.

“This is the third year we’ve been the primary sponsor of the Fireman’s Breakfast, but we’ve been helping for several years, probably more than 10,” said Charlene Butler, branch manager. “We just try to help out as much as possible.”