'Helping a Hero' event benefits family of injured Fresno fire captain

SANGER, Calif. (KFSN) -- Local residents continue to show their support for injured Fresno Fire Captain Pete Dern.

The Sanger Fire Department hosted the "Helping a Hero" Benefit BBQ and Blood Drive on Sunday. The community came out to donate blood to help Dern on his road to recovery. He was injured after falling through a roof while battling a house fire in March.

"We're one in the same. When someone in our community gets hurt, we band together and help them out, and we do the same for Pete," said Sanger Fire Chief Greg Tarascou. "I've had the opportunity to work with Pete on a couple of calls, and so this really feels like it's the right thing to do for us and the fire services to help out someone in need and help out our community as well."

Proceeds from Sunday's event will go to the Dern family. The benefit was also part of the annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. If you'd like to participate in the friendly competition between law enforcement and firefighters, you can still stop by any Central California blood bank to donate through June 6.