By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

If the chili is too hot at Tampa Saturday, firefighters will be on hand to put out the fire.

The fundraiser is being held in conjunction with the first-ever Tampa Trail Fest, a celebration of Tampa’s Santa Fe Trail history. Tampa was one of the towns along the trail.

Tampa Pride member Amber Peterson said the festival will include a car show and vendors starting at noon; kids’ activities including a bouncy house and train ride starting at 1 p.m.; a Life Team helicopter demonstration; and an old-fashioned cakewalk.

Lunch will be available at a downtown café from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Peterson said.

“We just want them to come out and have a good time, and help support the fire department,” Peterson said.

Tampa Fire Department will serve up chili, chicken noodle soup, and cinnamon rolls at a 5 p.m. fundraiser during Tampa Trail Fest.

Greg Berens, Tampa fire chief, said the department hopes to raise money for the purchase of 800 MHz radios all county fire departments will soon be required to carry.

The cost of the meal is by donation, Berens said.

The radios can cost as much as $1,650 for portable units and $2,200 for vehicle units.

Berens estimates the department will need about $20,000 to buy portable radios for 13 firefighters. Six Tampa firefighters are members of other emergency departments as well and those will probably get radios through the other departments, Berens said.

“I think the number that I have to purchase is 13,” Berens said.

“I know we’re not going to raise that, but that’s just the start of it,” Berens said. “We have some savings to do some things but that’s going to have to go towards radios.”

At 4 p.m., before the soup supper begins, DS&O Electric Cooperative will give an electrical safety demonstration.

“I’m going to invite all fire districts in the county to attend that,” Berens said.

Saturday’s soup supper will be the department’s first soup supper in 10 years.