Fire Department Hopes Halloween Tradition Will Raise Funds For Operations

By: Rob Landreth | WSPA-TV
Published: October 23, 2010

CHESNEE, SC --

A volunteer fire department in Spartanburg County is using a seasonal tradition to help raise money.

Firefighters and volunteers with the Cooley Springs Volunteer Fire Department are in dire need of new equipment or upgraded equipment in order to keep their operations going and help serving the community. As a result, members of the community, along with the firefighters and other volunteers are holding a Haunted Trail to help raise money to keep the fire department operational.

"We are just raising any kind of money because we don't get a lot of money through the year because we are a volunteer fire department," said Brenda Robbins of the Cooley Springs Fire Department. "We don't have a lot of business around here to raise to raise the capital like most people."

Cooley Springs Volunteer Fire Department covers a large area in northern Spartanburg County and even assists in Cherokee County during emergency situation and calls. Though, this year, the fire department is hoping that their haunted trail will bring some scares and joy to local residents throughout Halloween and at the same time raise the much needed money.

"It's been hard and long and we've raised a little bit of money," said Robbins of the Haunted Trail, which has been open the past two nights. "We'd like to raise two or three times more than what we've already raised the next three nights. So we hope it's going to be good."

The Haunted Trail is known as the "Haunted Horrors On Highway 11" and features everything from Jason of Friday The 13th fame to scary clowns.

"We've got some real scary clowns, Michael Myers or Jason, so they'll be scared" said Robbins. "We've got some other things going on in there that'll run them out real quick."

The fire department is hoping to raise enough money for new emergency equipment, bathrooms and food for the firehouse. The cost for the the Haunted Trail is $2 per person.

For further information and directions, contact the Cooley Springs Fire Department at (864) 461-4146.