Ever wonder what it takes to fight back flames and keep a community safe — entirely by the hands of hard-working volunteers? Evidently, a big ol' party. Head out to the Mattole Grange on Saturday, July 25 for Roll on the Mattole, a full day of food, music and fun that serves as the largest fundraiser for the Honeydew Volunteer Fire Company ($25, $20, kids under 12 free with adult). According to the company's Linda Yonts, the Roll and community donations paid for a new fourth engine to help cover four neighborhoods: Wilder ridge, Panther Gap, Windy Nip and Honeydew. 

The party starts at noon and features a Wildland Firefighter Challenge in which geared-up firefighters from Honeydew, Petrolia, Whale Gulch and Telegraph Ridge run drills for a coveted trophy. Peruse local craft vendors, let the kids roam the kids zone, slurp down oysters and beer, mack on wood-fired pizza, barbecue and desserts. There's even a salad bar and Kombucha on tap from It's Alive. The celebration also offers tons of great tune-age courtesy of Delta Nove, Indubious, NPK, Cold Blue Water, Lost Coast Marimbas and DJ Marjo Lak.

And say hey to the Journal's contributing writer and this year's emcee Jennifer Savage while you're there.