It’s Fire Versus ‘Heat’ in 7th ‘Battle of the Badges’

The Los Angeles county and city fire departments will go head-to-head against the Police Department on Sunday in a football game to raise money for local charities.

The “911 Bowl” at Valley College is the seventh annual “Battle of the Badges” pitting the Police Department’s L.A. Heat against the fire departments’ L.A. Centurions.

About one-third of the money raised will go to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles to be divided among children’s programs, said Todd Rosin, director of communications for United Way.

The remainder will benefit the Los Angeles Firemen Widows and Orphans Fund, the Ann Wilk Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and the Blind Children’s Center.

Since 1993, the 911 Bowl has raised about $80,000 for charities, said Ron Harmon, a fire apparatus operator. This year’s goal is $20,000.

“Sports seems to somehow command more attention from kids,” said Inspector Mark Tolbert of the County Fire Department. “Knowing that, we use football as a tool with which we can actually communicate better with kids.”

The football game dates back to 1927, when the teams played before a crowd of 80,000 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Fire Department team won the game, but it stopped playing until 1992, when it started up again with the Police Department, which has a long history of winning.

Tickets are available at fire stations, through United Way or at Valley College stadium. Admission is $5 for adults and free for kids under 16. For more information, call (213) 630-2191.