Firefoxes, Spectators Heat Up Benefit

They make their living rescuing people from burning buildings, overturned cars and other dangers. But when firemen themselves need help, who comes to the rescue?

Friday night, the answer was a thousand screaming women in Spandex.

Firefighters from all over Orange County who put their hides on the line each year to raise money for the Orange County Burn Assn. strutted their stuff for what may be the last time at the eighth annual Firefoxes Calendar Competition.

The Firefoxes have become an endangered species, Anaheim Fire Chief Jeff Bowman explained, because the competition and calendar sales have raised so little money for the cause in the past.

But this year, the men’s bravery was more than matched by the boldness of the women who paid $20 each to watch the competitors in action. When the smoke cleared, the event had netted $14,700, according to Burn Assn. president Sue Cronin. And that may be enough to make future Firefox competitions worthwhile, she said, although the final decision will be made later.

Uniform

The evening turned out to be even hotter than its organizers anticipated. Although Bowman and Fountain Valley Fire Chief Richard E. Jorgenson emphasized the theme of “good clean fun,” some competitors pushed the limit a bit, tossing clothing into the crowd and wiggling suggestively at the judges.

Most of the women in the audience were doing their best to heat things up as well, with their slinky attire and their uninhibited behavior. Bowman’s brother, Steve, and his crew of firefighter trainees who served as volunteer security guards did their tactful best to keep the excitement from turning into mayhem.

“We’re not trying to spoil the fun,” Bowman explained again and again. “We just want to keep things safe.”

Red Hot

After a few choreographed dance numbers featuring Firefoxes for 1991 and 1992, the 1993 candidates took to the runway for the sportswear segment, stripping down to their shorts from costumes of their own design. One contestant dressed--and then partially undressed--as Santa Claus. Others were outfitted as Fred Flintstone, Zorro, surfer dudes, nerds and even a fireman complete with a Dalmatian puppy.

The winning firefighters were Christopher Boyd, Richard Brandt, Mike Dillon, Jackawa Jackson, Scott Krause, Jeff Loritz, Mark Lyle, Stephen Mulcare, Jon Osterkamp, David Sherman, Richard Vivano and Jerry Wiencek.