Volunteer Firefighter Pancakes a Delicious Success

The word has long been out that the Mill Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association's draws a big crowd.

The few hardy souls who arrived close to the 7 a.m. start time found the line for food and coffee mercifully short. But anyone who arrived anytime thereafter hoping to chow down on breakfast found a line that snaked around the roped-off eating area, past the coffee station and down Corte Madera Avenue. 

Pancakes, eggs, sausage and coffee, served up by professional and volunteer firefighters and their families and friends, remains a major draw in Mill Valley.

Mill Valley residents Ann and Tom Robinson and their three children came to support the community and its firefighters. But also came to eat. 

“The pancakes are so good, I ate two helpings,” said Tom Robinson said. 

Ann Robinson liked the food but also enjoyed the small-town atmosphere the breakfast and parade helped foster. 

“The event reminds me of La Crosse, Wisconsin, the small town where I grew up. I love bringing the kids to the Memorial Day events here in Mill Valley,” she said.

Barbara and Jonathan Jacobs, 46-year Mill Valley residents, have eaten firehouse pancakes since its inaugural year. 

“It’s a dependable event,” joked Jonathan, “and the food is solid.” Larry Lautzker, president of the parade committee and Mill Valley resident added, "As always, the pancakes were sensational.”

Mill Valley resident Fred Martin, a volunteer firefighter for 34 years and owner of the eponymous catering company, organized the production and griddled the cakes while additional volunteers managed the cooking stations and the crowd.  Mill Valley Fire Chief Greg Moore was on egg duty alongside firefighter Nick Langlois. Battalion Chief Scott Barnes cooked up the sausages with help from Adel Bukary, General Manager of , which donated the Aidell’s chicken & apple sausages.

“We served up about 3,500 pancakes today along with 1,800 sausages and countless eggs,” said Martin. 

Asked if he would share his secret for serving hot, fluffy flapjacks to the multitudes, Martin demurred, saying only that “there are no secrets I’m willing to share, but, if you don’t like your eggs, take your complaints to Fire Chief Greg Moore.”   

donated the coffee, Odwalla donated the orange juice and Clover Stornetta donated the milk. provided refrigeration while Bob Hughes, a 25-year volunteer firefighter and general manager at Mill Valley Market, also worked to get the hot food to the service table.

John Thompson, president of the Mill Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association, said it takes about $4,000 to properly train and equip an active duty firefighter and the group hoped to raise between $10,000 and $15,000 at this year’s event. 

“We take all the proceeds from our events and use it to buy equipment and gear,” he said.  

Thompson is already hard at work planning this year’s slated for September 10th, a long-defunct tradition resuscitated last year. (A flag-raising ceremony to honor the victims of 9-11 will be held the morning of Sept. 11.) Donations are always accepted at either firehouse in town.