Firemen scorch greens for charity

Richard Dunn

While many Costa Mesa firefighters enjoyed playing the Mesa Linda

golf course Monday in the third annual Costa Mesa Firefighters

Association Charity Golf Tournament at Costa Mesa Golf & Country

Club, others, like fireman/paramedic Val Santo, could not play

because of having been injured in the line of duty, but showed up

anyway “to support the guys.”

Santo, of Newport Beach, is based at Costa Mea Fire Station No. 6

(adjacent to South Coast Plaza). An explosion at a recent fire, which

killed a man, led to Santo’s injury -- a partially torn tendon in his

right arm that has required hours of medical attention.

“Everybody gets injured at some point. It’s a high-risk job,” said

Santo, a Newport Beach resident, who once injured his back during a

fire fight.

Santo, about a 16-handicap golfer, could only watch from a golf

cart in his association’s fund-raiser golf tournament in chamber of

commerce weather.

“To be honest with you, I believe being a fireman is a great job.

I love it ... we’re doing something worthwhile and we’re glad people

say thank you,” Santo said, when asked about 9/11 and how its affect

perhaps elevated the status of fireman in the public’s view.

On a lighter side, Santo said there are several good golfers in

the Costa Mesa Firefighters Association, including Chris “Woody”

Brimhall (a 4 handicap), Keith Jones (7) and association president

Jeff Janzen (9).

The Costa Mesa Firefighters Association sponsors and supports

numerous charities in the city, including awarding two $500

scholarships each year to both Estancia and Costa Mesa high schools,

as well as donating to the athletic programs at both schools.

The CMFA Charity Fund, the beneficiary of Monday’s tournament,

also supports local Little League teams and the Costa Mesa Senior

Center. Last year, the association contributed to the New York Fire

Department 9/11 campaign relief effort. Local firemen flew to New

York to donate the check.

It has also been a busy year for the firefighters. “There have

been a lot of fires this year,” Santo said.

Doug Wilson, the event’s co-tournament director along with Jones,

said there were 140 entries Monday.