Laguna Beach firefighters heated up their griddles promptly at 7 a.m. and not long after, the savory smell of fluffy pancakes, sausage and bacon mixed with the salty ocean air for a festive start to Labor Day at Heisler Park.
The annual holiday pancake breakfast is a favorite in town, drawing hundreds who stand in line for their plate of hot and syrupy pancakes. Now more than 90 years old, the traditional end-of-summer event is among the oldest Labor Day celebrations in the nation.
Jay and Gertrud(CQ) Andrus of Laguna Beach enjoy their pancake breakfast at Heisler Park. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Donations helped the Maui fire victims in Hawaii. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Some of the participants dine seaside at Heisler Park.Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Lisa Staight of Laguna Beach receives her pancakes at the annual breakfast at Heisler Park. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer, Atticus Anderson, 11, enjoys his pancake breakfast at the annual event. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Donations partly went to help the victims of the Maui fire last month. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Gracie Rayson, 3, of Laguna Beach carries her plate of pancakes at the annual breakfast. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Nick Diamond, Firefighter/Paramedic, left, Travis Wilson, Firefighter/Engineer, center, and Owen Fischer, Ambulance Operator, right, helped cook and serve as Alice Harmon of Laguna Beach waits patiently. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Officials estimated that 500-700 people were fed at the annual event. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Hayley Mulvaney, 10, of Laguna Beach, left, and J. Lin, Engineer Paramedic, right, chat while cooking pancakes.
Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
A line of people await the start of the annual pancake breakfast. Laguna Beach firefighters cooked up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Pancakes cook as Laguna Beach firefighters cook up pancakes, bacon and sausage for the community in their annual Labor Day event at Heisler Park. Photographed on Monday, September 4, 2023 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
While various charities have sponsored the pancake breakfast in its past, off-duty firefighters took it over about a decade ago, said Capt. Tom Paddon, president of the Laguna Beach Firefighters Association.
Most of the proceeds from the event this year, which typically feeds more than a thousand people, will benefit the victims of the Maui fire. Some will also go toward the preservation of the department’s Seagrave fire engine, which went into service in Laguna Beach in 1931 and was retired in 1961.
“It’s high energy and a great way to get community involvement,” Paddon said, adding some of Monday’s volunteer cooking crew were scheduled for the Sunday shift while others were driving in from their homes outside Orange County, even from as far away as Northridge and Beaumont. “The commitment of these men is growing.”
Ingredients for the pancake mix, sausages and beverages were supplied by local businesses, including from Ivan Spiers, a local restauranteur who operates Mozambique Restaurant, Skyloft and Laguna Fish Co. The coffee was donated by Jedidiah Coffee.
By the end of the morning, firefighters expected to have served more than 600 people and gone through 30 gallons of batter and 60 pounds of sausage. A plate cost $8.
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