Firefighters from multiple agencies gathered on Camano Saturday, Sept. 14, for the first-ever Firefighter Pickleball Battle, hosted by Camano Island Fire & Rescue.
The event served as a fundraiser for the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, which promotes the education and prevention of burn injuries and aims to improve the lives of burn survivors.
Just over $8,000 was raised at the event, said Camano Fire Chief Levon Yengoyan.
Yengoyan came up with the idea for a tournament because of his love for pickleball.
“I think one of the best things about pickleball is just the fun that we all have,” Yengoyan said. “I don’t ever laugh as much — out loud laughing — as I do when I’m playing with my friends. And the more I play within the fire service, the more I realize how many firefighters play.”