On Sunday, October 8, 2017 the Southern Manatee Fire Rescue District competed in the 18th Annual Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-off and once again won the “People’s Choice” Award and “1st Place Award”. Firefighter/EMT Chuck Moonen famous “Haz-mat Chili” recipe once again was a BIG hit at Morton’s Market Firehouse Chili Cook-off not only with the judges but also with thousands of citizens that attended 4 hour event.
In 2016 Firefighter/EMT Chuck Moonen’s Haz-mat Chili won the “People’s Choice Award” and “1st Place” and in 2015 it won the “People’s Choice Award”.
Firefighter/EMT Chuck Moonen prepared 30 gallons of his famous Haz-mat Chili and about 20 Southern Manatee Firefighters and family members helped serve the chili and toppings to the thousands of citizens that attended. Longboat Key Fire Department took 2nd Place and Sarasota County Fire Department Station #12 took 3rd Place.