‘Run For The Red’ Held

Hundreds of bikers proudly wore the bright red wristband that proclaimed a "Run for the Red Rider" Saturday in Greenville.

The riders participated in a non-timed riding event that offered a tour of all 13 volunteer and paid fire departments in Hunt County. The motorcycle riders left in small groups to visit the Greenville fully paid fire department, Campbell, Commerce, Wolfe City, Celeste, Leonard, Merit, Caddo Mills, Union Valley, Quinlan, West Tawakoni and Lone Oak volunteer fire departments.

Only the Tawakoni South and Cash VFDs were omitted during the event, the TSVFD station possibly due to a call it was working and the CVFD due to the busy and possibly dangerous location on State Highway 34.

The Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department also relocated to the Wild Blue Yonder over Quinlan restaurant (aka Wings) on Quinlan Parkway due to safety considerations. The Quinlan and Tawakoni South VFDs joined forces and equipment to welcome the riders and to present a documentation ticket to each rider that would represent a visit to that fire station.

Every visit to each fire station produced a donation by the event organizers that will be shared by all fire departments.

Quinlan Fire Chief Steve Bowen said that 78 percent of all fire departments nationwide are volunteer fire departments and depend on the support of their community to continue to protect their fire districts.

Bowen also said that only the Greenville Fire Department is fully paid in Hunt County and that even the Commerce Fire Department is part paid and part volunteer.