Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors Golf Tournament

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The Firefighters Quest Golf Tournament was recently held at the Angeles National Golf Club, one of the only 2 courses in Southern California designed by Jack Nicholas. It is a beautiful course framed by mountains that were burned in both the Station and Sayer Fires. The Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors was established in 1996 after 6 firefighters were injured in a Malibu wildfire, and since then has held numerous fundraisers to assist burn victims.

Executive Director of Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors and Firefighter for the City of Glendale, Tom Propst, describes how his organization supported the burn victims. " When they were recovering, we were at the burn center supporting them and their families and saw a need to support all burn survivors." They provide a wide range of services from simple support like patients visits to paying for medical bills, therapy, or rental fees.

The firefighter most severely burned in the 1996 Malibu fire was put into a coma, then airlifted to a hospital where he stayed for 4 months. "73% of the body was 3rd degree burns, so the next few years after that, I've had 3,600 skin graphs," says burn survivor Bill Jenson, who served the Glendale Fire Department. Now he works closely with Firefighters Quest. He also speaks to fire departments to explain how he got hurt, how they saved a life and the things we can do to protect our fellow brotherhood in the fire service.

100% of the proceeds from the golf tournament go directly to Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors. Tom Propst explains, "We are fully staffed by volunteers, so we have very minimal operating costs. Most all operating costs are covered by sponsors." Also formerly with the Glendale Fire Department, and chairman of Firefighters Quest, is Scott French, who tells FDNNTV.com, "Last year we made a record amount which was just over $14,000. We'll see how it goes this year. We have more golfers this year."

For their $150 entry fee, golfers received a donated gift bag full of donated items from sponsors, a barbeque lunch, a cart, and an 18 hole scramble format tournament.

Participant Matt Safranek, Firefighter with the Glendale Fire Department, expresses the surprise to golfers at one hole. "We had to start by throwing from the tee blocks, and then the rest of the hole we had to use our 8 irons and then putt with one arm using our drivers." Since the hole was a Par 4, they had to use their 8 iron several times to get to the green.

The tournament was originally designed to bring in firefighters from all different agencies to be a part of Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors. Now over 100 departments are part of events throughout the year. "It's up to the fire department community and all of us out there to help prevent burns from happening. So we need to go out and educate and train, but after they do occur, we need to be able to go out and be able to support," says Guy Tomlinson, Captain for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Bill Jenson adds, "The best part is that it was formed not because of me, but because of other burn survivors that were in the hospital that did not have a family or anybody to come and visit them."

Their full day was capped off with an Awards Banquet where 26 trophies were handed out.

The winners include:

Morning Mulligan Drawing – Mike Davis
Putting Contest – Mark Wright
Long Drive – Chris Fetner
Long Putt – Andrew Chest
3rd Place Net – Dick Krause, Craig Messner, Ron White, George Anderson
2nd Place Net – Tony Mucci, Rudy Flores, Jesse Sway, Dan Tuillo
1st Place Net – Ken Chong, Bruce Park, Roger Song, Scott Kaufman
3rd Place Gross – Pete Lawson, Mark Wright, Brett Marshall, Mike Murphy
2nd Place Gross – Mike Haney, Mike Movius, Bob Fegley, Don Meyers
1st Place Gross – Jeff Howe, Blaire Salisbury, Rich Contreas, Jimmy Brady

For more information about Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors, visit www.firefightersquest.org.



Author:Barbara Brooks - Video, Renιe Marquart - Text