Firefighters serve food for fundraiser

Costa Mesa firefighters collected an estimated $1,000 in a fundraiser for their Widows and Orphans Fund Thursday night when they acted as waiters and busboys for a local restaurant, officials said.

For about five hours, Costa Mesa firefighters served their community in a different way than usual — this time handing out burgers, fries and drinks at Ruby’s Diner on 17th Street — with 20% of the customers’ bills going to charity.

The Widows and Orphans Fund is a safety net for the families of firefighters who have been lost in the line of duty, said Capt. Bruce Pulgencio.

“Thank you to all the citizens of Costa Mesa and the people who came out and supported us,” Pulgencio said.

— Joseph Serna