A lone black fireman’s boot solicits donations on a table in the lobby of the Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department.

It’s that time again.

Just like last year, and the one before, area firefighters are taking a break from training runs in fire engulfed structures and safety drills at 1900 degrees. Instead of fighting fire, they are fighting for its littlest victims.

Both Richland Township and Pendleton fire departments have taken on the Hoosier Burn Camp in Brookston as their cause and the fundraising season has begun.

The camp gives Indiana’s youngest burn victims a shot at one week of normalcy, said Kelly Haun, EMS sergeant for the Richland Township Fire Department.

Rather than hiding the scars that will never really fade, children at the burn camp rip their shirts from their bodies and dive into the camp’s pool with confidence that for one week, they won’t be judged since each child shares the same stigma.

“Even though they are normal things in our childhood,”: Haun said, “they don’t get to experience it because of their burns.”

The camp, which relies on donations, is free for campers ages 8 to 18.

On Aug. 24, Pendleton firefighters carried their boots at area intersections in hopes that passing motorists would donate to the cause.

Pendleton Fire Chief Danny Gardner said the firefighters have once again raised $1,000 for burn victims.

Pendleton firefighters have done the fundraiser for three years, choosing it over the Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser favored by most fire departments across the country. Each year, Pendleton firefighters raise an average of $1,000 for the burn camp.

Richland firefighters challenged the department’s firefighter cadets to take on the cause this year to fulfill the philanthropy requirement of their training.

Richland firefighters raised $5,000 for the camp last year but when cadets learned that a check for $23,000 was presented to the camp last year by another organization, they raised the bar.

Jerry Stigall, 14, is the cadet chief for the department and said the eight cadets have pledged to raise $25,000 this year. “They’re all psyched about it. They want to help the kids.”

Richland Fire Capt. Jeffrey Stigall has been a firefighter for 26 years and said he first saw what happens to children saved from fire while working at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis. “To see the kids in the burn center, it was horrible.”

Stigall soon learned that victims of fire undergo excruciating treatments to recover from their burns. One procedure involves using a steel brush to grate at the children’s skin, sloughing off dead skin seared by flames.

Stigall and Haun introduced the fundraiser to the Richland Township department last year and say firefighters approached their goal with enthusiasm, hosting several events including a cookout and a bowling outing.

Richland Fire Chief Bryan Frank have a special connection with the wounded campers since firefighters are often burned in the line of duty or during training exercises. Even in controlled training environments, firefighters must enter structures burning at 1900 degrees. “When our people are in a fire, you feel the heat and we’re protected by gear. You can imagine how horrible it was for children to be trapped in their bedrooms with their clothes catching fire. I think you can relate to the pain they experienced.”

Haun, who works as a counselor at the camp, said firefighters often rescue inhabitants of burning homes and the story ends there. “A lot of us are trained to deal with taking care of the scene when we’re on the scene, but I don’t think a lot of us know about what happens afterward.”

“Once you get to meet the campers and see the camp, everything comes full circle,” Haun said.

Richland firefighters are currently planning their next fundraising event for the burn victims and Stigall said area residents should consider the value of the cause.

“Imagine one of your kids, 8 to 18, who’s been severely burned. All the scar tissue, all the self-esteem issues and others making fun, kids being kids, and your kids gets to go away to a camp for one week free, where he can be just like one of the kids. How much is that worth?”

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Make a donation for burn victims

Send donations to: Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department

At: 405 E. 500 North, Anderson, 46012