Late Saturday afternoon, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield presented the People’s Choice award to “Louie’s Red Shirt Mafia” with the Cleveland Fire Department.
They upset the reigning champions from Chattanooga’s Station 1, which had won the title for the past five years. Cleveland’s team won with its “Hillbilly Chili.”
For the Chef’s Choice award, the “CFD Combat Challenge Team” won with its “Iron Man Chili.” It’s their first time competing in the contest, defeating the defending champions, the “Chili Chiefs.”
Last month, members of this team won top honors at the Tennessee Ultimate Fire Fighter “TUFF” Challenge in Bell Buckle.
Holly Carroll, district director with the local Muscular Dystrophy Association, said Saturday’s event raised approximately $5,800 for MDA. The major sponsors for this popular charitable event included Food Lion, Firehouse Subs and Kohl’s.
This was the first time the Firehouse Chili Cook-off was held at the Chattanooga Zoo, and coincided with Go!Fest.
The 7th annual Go!Fest was a free day at the zoo, featuring live music, adaptive sports, helicopter landings, assistive technology and a children’s area with bouncy castles, face painting and educational booths.
