PORT ANGELES — Sparky and the firefighters aren’t a band — but they will be bringing plenty of noise and light to Port Angeles streets this week.
Operation Candy Cane will hit Port Angeles neighborhoods beginning Saturday to collect food and donations for the Port Angeles Food Bank.
“Sparky” is Engine 5, a restored 1954 Seagrave pumper engine. It was nicknamed “Sparky” after being part of a now-defunct “Sparky Week” program for elementary school students, said Port Angeles Fire Captain Keith Bogues.
Firefighters spent several hours decorating the department’s antique fire engine Tuesday evening, covering it in lights and adding a tree and a seat for Santa Claus in the back.
Escorted by four to 15 volunteer and professional firefighters on foot, Sparky will be driven along streets in Port Angeles to collect donations for the food bank and to distribute candy canes to people who come out of their homes to greet the festive fire team.
Each night, the firefighters cover a different neighborhood.
It takes six nights for the firefighters and engine to travel up to 26 miles each night.
Volunteers take turns walking and riding the engine.
“When we have 15, it can be a lot of fun. When we have four it can be a lot of work,” Bogues said.
Operation Candy Cane will begin at 5:30 each night and continue until the truck has reached the end of its route, rain or moon shine.
Here is the schedule:
■ Saturday — South McDonald Street to I Street north of 10th Street, then to M Street south of 10th Street.
■ Sunday — I Street north of 10th Street, then M Street south of 10th Street to C Street.
■ Monday — C Street to Lincoln Street, north of Lauridsen Boulevard.
■ Tuesday — Lincoln Street to Chambers Street, north of Lauridsen Boulevard.
■ Wednesday — Jones Street and Hurricane Ridge Road to South Golf Course Road.
■ Thursday — South of Lauridsen, from South Cherry Street to Mount Angeles Road.
The routes are typically complete by 9:30 p.m. and the fire truck crew cannot alter its schedule to visit specific places at specific times, Bogues said.
The firefighters’ annual holiday tradition has collected $51,781 in cash donations and 268,942 pounds of food since it began in 1986.
The record year for cash donations was 2011, when $3,396 was given to firefighters to help provide food for those who are struggling.
In 2013, Port Angeles residents donated a record 13,768 pounds of non-perishable food.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
