WORCESTER — Firehouse living can bring out the best in Worcester's finest, and especially when it comes to creating culinary delights. Firefighters also can be competitive, even when it comes to who can outcook whom.

The best of the Worcester Fire Department's kitchen skills will be on display Sept. 29 for the first Paragus Firehouse Cook Off, beginning at 5 p.m. at Polar Park.

"These guys are in the houses 24/7, and they're cooking in the station all the time," said Lt. John Franco, the WFD's point man for this event,  which will benefit the Worcester Firefighters 6K road race's charities. "And they can be very competitive."

Firehouses around the city are working with local chefs to create their finest meal, satisfying palates with various ethnic cuisines, to be judged by local business leaders. After the judging, firefighters and chefs at nine entry stations representing firehouses will serve samples, and greet and meet with those on hand for the family-friendly event.

Franco noted that Paragus Strategic IT, the event's main sponsor, contacted Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim Murray about the potential of such an event coming to the city. Murray referred Paragus to Franco, who for 18 years was race director of the Worcester Firefighters 6K.

Other event sponsors include Keches Law Group, Niche Hospitality and Glickman, Kavago and Jacobs Real Estate.

"The goal is to make this an annual event and try to make it more attractive each year," said Franco, who is retiring in December after 34 years with the WFD. "The event is designed to forward the proceeds to charities, and this was a no-brainer to team up with them. This event can only grow and become more impressive."

The Worcester Fire Department has held chili cookoffs in the past, and talk had surfaced about planning another when this Firehouse Cook Off idea was broached. 

"The idea we can make food and are always cooking, of course it's an attractive idea," said Franco, who works at the Franklin Street station. "We have a lot of good cooks. This is going to be fun — we're excited about it."

Proceeds benefit Firefighters 6K charities

The Worcester Firefighters 6K, the beneficiary of this event and which will run for the 22nd time in June, began as a fundraiser for a memorial to the six firefighters who died Dec. 3, 1999, in the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. blaze. After the race's second year, the WFD 6K shifted into a charity event.

"We wanted to give back to the community that did so much for us and lent so much support," said Franco, who remains treasurer of the WFD 6K after handing over race director duties to Lt. Pat Chviruk.

The WFD 6K has raised more than $600,000. Primary charities in recent years are NEADS, the Genesis Club and the American Foundations for Suicide Prevention. The race continues to honor Worcester firefighters Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey, Jay Lyons, Joseph McGuirk and Thomas Spencer, who died in the Worcester Cold Storage fire, and Jon Davies, Christopher Roy and Jason Menard, who died in city house fires since.

"Our nine fallen brothers," Franco said. "As long as runners come, the race will last forever." 

Proceeds from the Paragus Firehouse Cook Off will go to the Worcester Firefighters 6Ks charities.

The nine stations of competitors will be spread along the Polar Park concourse, the concessions stand will be open and a catering company also will be serving food. 

"Polar Park has been great to us, bending over backward to accommodate us," Franco said.

Tickets are $30, $20 for firefighters and their families, and children under 10 are admitted free. Those attending will receive a commemorative T-shirt. There is a maximum of 500 tickets sold.

For information and tickets, visit https://www.paragusit.com/firehouse-cook-off or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paragus-firehouse-cook-off-tickets-403553067087.

The event will be the culmination of a healthy cooking competition among the firefighting brotherhood. 

"The guys are talking a lot of trash," Franco said. "It's all they're talking about now. As I said, we like competition."

- John Conceison