South Zanesville Fire Dept. Chicken BBQ on Sunday

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — One local safety agency is thanking the community for their support that allows them to continue to service the public.

For 56-years the South Zanesville Fire Department has been hosting their Annual Chicken BBQ, and this year will be no different as Chief Russell Taylor says they will have plenty of food, and they will serve until it’s all gone.

“This Sunday, June 4th, is our 56th Annual Chicken BBQ. Our chicken will be cooked out front by the Zanesville Boosters; food starts serving at 11 o’clock, until we’re sold out. We have 1,300 chickens being cooked this Sunday. It will be available to be purchased here, along with sweets, so come on out and enjoy a good chicken dinner,” said Russell Taylor, Chief of the South Zanesville Fire Dept.

Taylor says that last year they sold out about 1,200 plates in an hour and a half to two hours, so he recommends that anyone interested in attending get there early before they sell out. He adds that with the Kidzville 2 rebuild project ongoing, they have ordered 160 plates to feed volunteers on Sunday to help support the department.

The funds raised at the chicken barbecue are put right back into the South Zanesville Fire Department for equipment and other supplies that allow them to continue their work in keeping the public safe.

“The proceeds for our chicken barbecue, we raise somewhere roughly around $3,000. We use it to buy turnout gear, whatever shortfalls that we have on our tax levies, this helps fill the gap. Supplies and stuff are so expensive, equipment and stuff, and it takes every dime we’ve got, and more, in order to survive,” added Taylor.

With this being the 56th year of the event, Taylor says everything moves like clockwork and they will start cooking the chickens on the grill at about 5:00 a.m. and the first ones will be pulled off around 10:30 a.m.

Taylor adds that they see a lot of the same people every year as church groups will all head over after their services, family and friends, and community members that have been coming for years will come out and it’s a wonderful gathering of the community to support their fire department.

Being the fire chief, Taylor explains it’s important for him to support local businesses when holding the event. The chicken is supplied by the Zanesville Boosters and all their products are purchased through J&E Distributors, while Campbell’s Foodland provides everything for the coleslaw.

Additionally, several business in the area purchase tickets for all of their employees to attend including Goss Supply, Coconis Furniture, and Neff Brothers.

The South Zanesville Fire Department is located at 24 E. Main St. The $8 meal includes chicken, coleslaw, apple sauce, a roll, and beverage.