Ignite the Night is Kosciusko County’s first ever formal/semi formal Firefighters Ball.

Sponsored by the Kosciusko County Fire Association, the evening of Feb. 8 will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and include fine dining, raffles and dancing. The Firefighters Ball is being held to honor retirees and recognize officers and members who dedicate their services to the many local communities. Kosciusko County is largely served by volunteer fire departments and the ball, open to both volunteers and full-time firefighters, is a way to build unity and celebrate the men and women who serve, and the spouses and partners that support them.

The Firefighters Ball is also the main source of fundraising for the Kosciusko County Communications System. The Firefighter’s Communication Fund was created in response to the Federal Communications Commissioner’s action to narrow bandwidth used by firefighters. The bandwidth narrowing along with the challenging Kosciusko County topography and elevation levels make radio communications unreliable. Kosciusko County Fire Association is applying for a federal grant to cover costs to obtain a more reliable system, however, not all costs will be covered.

Tickets are only for firefighters and their guests and are limited, so be sure to purchase them by Jan. 24. Ticket information can be found online at kcountyfireassociationfirefightersball.com. Anyone wishing to make donations to the fund or donate raffle prizes, can also do so online at the website. To inquire about raffle items, may do so by sending an email through the website.

The ball is being held Feb. 8 at Oakwood Inn, Syracuse.