Proctorville VFD holds first chili cook off in memoriam of fellow firefighter

PROCTORVILLE, Ohio (WOWK) — Proctorville Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) held their first ever chili cook off on Saturday.

What started as a fundraising event to raise money for one of their firemen with cancer, turned into the the Lonnie Sawyers Memorial Chili Cook Off. Fireman Lonnie Sawyers passed away in October after a battle with cancer, but PVFD decided to still go on with the cook off in Sawyers’ memory.

A panel of three judges ate bowl after bowl of chili to determine who would take first place.

“I’ve tried most of them so far,” PVFD Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Smith said. “There’s some hot ones, there’s some very traditional ones and there’s some unique flavors,” he said. “And, I’ve yet to come across one that’s bad.”

Assistant Chief Smith said the turnout was so successful that they’re considering making the chili cook off an annual event. All proceeds from the event go directly to the Sawyers family.