Safety teams fired up for barbecue cookoff

DeKalb firefighters will be showing off their best grilling techniques, barbecue sauces and tender-to-the-bone meats on Oct. 12 at the Fire House Grill BBQ Rib and Chicken Cook-off.

The event is being held alongside the DeKalb Fire Prevention Festival. Teams of public safety employees paid $50 to compete in the cook-off. Proceeds benefit the DeKalb County Risk Watch Coalition.

The cook-off and festival are the culmination of local observances of national Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12. Both events take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DeKalb Public Safety Complex, 742 Camp Drive near Memorial Drive and I-285.

The free event will offer fun, food, games and rides for children, fire and life safety education and the opportunity to meet firefighters, paramedics and police officers.

Cook-off teams will grill three cases of pork ribs and chicken each. Entries will be sampled by festival goers until they disappear. Teams will win prizes for best ribs, best chicken and best booth.