Upper Yaak Fire Service hosting Labor Day weekend rummage sale
Here are the members of the Upper Yaak Fire Department. Bottom row, from left are Todd Schwalm, Craig Johnson (Fire Chief), Mike Zwiebel, Dave Gambill, Paul Dalziel, Ken Krauss and Larry Miller. On the engine, from left, are Ray McCready (Assistant Fire Chief), Chuck Leidigh and Scott Shelton. (Photo courtesy Sharon Sullivan)
The Upper Yaak Fire Department, in existence since 1994, is an all-volunteer organization that responds to local emergencies.
The first fire chief was Martin Redlinger. Firefighters can be found responding to structure fires, wildland fires, downed power lines, car accidents and medical emergencies in the Yaak Valley.
Running this operation is expensive and the local tax assessment fee of $60 per property owner does not cover all equipment costs, training and operations. Each year the Upper Yaak Fire Department Auxiliary sponsors a rummage sale that encourages local residents to clean out their closets, basements and outbuildings and donate items for a sale during the Labor Day weekend.
This community sale will help fund much needed updated equipment for our firefighters who are all volunteers.
Sharon Sullivan, organizer of this event, has been involved with the Upper Yaak Fire Department since 2003. She serves the department as the recording secretary and files the necessary paperwork with state and federal agencies. Sullivan organized the first rummage sale in 2009 when she saw the need to raise funds for the department for safety and communications equipment.
“I am passionate about this department and hope I will inspire others to help their neighbors and the department by donating their time and energy. That’s the reason I got involved so I could give back to my community,” Sullivan said.
The sale is scheduled to run on Labor Day weekend at the Upper Yaak Fire Station 74 Shooting Range Road, Yaak. It will occur from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31.
For a donation, hot dogs, chips and bottled water will be available. Upper Yaak Fire wishes to thank the Yaak River Tavern in Yaak for supplying these items.
For those wishing to donate items for the sale, two drop-off dates are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17, 8 a.m. to noon and Saturday, Aug. 24, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Upper Yaak Fire Station, Yaak.
For more information, call Sullivan at 406-295-5985.