The 13th annual Sandy Valley Volunteer Fire Department Balloon Fest, Pancake Breakfast and Safety Fair will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Keystone Center, 115 N. Miami St., Sandy Valley.

“This great event is a wonderful opportunity to get to know this small town while supporting the dedicated volunteer firefighters in Sandy Valley,” said Commissioner Susan Brager, whose District F includes Sandy Valley.

This yearly fundraiser for the fire department features balloon rides, which cost $50 per person. Tickets may be purchased, or reserved, in advance, and check-in for the balloon rides begins at 7 a.m. that day. The pancake breakfast will cost $5 per person, $3 for children under 10. There will also be a raffle, a blood drive, and safety demonstrations from law enforcement, Mercy Air, Valley Electric, and the American Medical Response and MedicWest ambulance companies.

Tickets for the balloon ride are available at the Sandy Valley Volunteer Fire Department and Sandy Valley Post Office. For more information call Bob Skelton at (702) 203-1150 or call Electra Smith at (702) 723-1350. To get to the event from Las Vegas take Interstate 15 south to exit 12 (Jean) and then head west on State Route 161 toward Sandy Valley and Goodsprings. Before reaching Goodsprings turn left onto Sandy Valley Road. Once in Sandy Valley turn right onto Cherokee Street, left on Quartz Avenue and then turn right at the Keystone Center sign.

The festival is the Sandy Valley Volunteer Fire Department’s largest fundraiser. The money raised helps pay for training, supplies and equipment. The Sandy Valley Volunteer Fire Department is one of 13 volunteer departments in Clark County covering most of the vast rural areas. Those departments are staffed by approximately 300 volunteers who respond to approximately 2,000 emergency calls annually. The Sandy Valley Volunteer Fire Department has about 20 volunteers and responds to roughly 250 emergency calls a year.