The City of Akron will sponsor its first-ever Firefighter’s Chili Challenge, Friday, January 19 at Downtown’s  Lock 3 Park from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., or until the chili is all gone, whichever is first.

          Akron firefighter Jim Diestel ---known for his firehouse chili --- has thrown down the gauntlet to four city departments to determine who has the best chili in the city.  Participating in the challenge are:

          Service Director’s Office: Jeff Fusco, deputy service director

          Recreation Bureau: Karen Hague and Mari Gower, administrative assistants

          Akron Police Department: Detective Joe Smith

          Sewer Maintenance Division: Mike Kuhn

For a $5 admission charge, and all proceeds to benefit Children’s Hospital Burn Unit, visitors will receive 5 tickets.  Each ticket will buy one four-ounce serving of chili.  With five tickets, a customer may try all the chili(s) and go home full (20 ounces of chili!)  

          Additional tickets will be available for sale at $1 each.

          Lock 3 will have soft drinks for sale, and the Akron Civic Theatre will be offering cold beer to complement the hot chili.

          Join us, along with a panel of celebrity judges with cast-iron stomachs.  Judging will take place at 1:30 p.m.

          There will also be a People’s Choice Award permitting every chili customer to vote for the best chili recipe.