The Austin Fire Department came close to matching its 2018 record of $21,000 raised during its most recent Fill the Boot campaign.

“We rocked another year, just shy of $20,400 unofficially,” said organizer and firefighter/engineer Jim Halsey. “It was a really good year.”

From Wednesday through Friday last week, firefighters stood at the corners of three intersections inn Austin, collecting money from motorists and anyone passing by. The money will be donated to help support programs and expenses for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Like last year, Wednesday was the biggest day for raising money. Halsey said they might have broken the record had it not been for a Wednesday afternoon suspected arson fire that required firefighters to temporarily leave their intersections.

“We would have probably had another $1,500 easily,” Halsey said.

The AFD has a friendly competition with other fire departments throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas to see who can raise the most per union firefighter that participates in Fill the Boot. The winner gains possession of the Golden Axe, which is displayed in the firehouse. The AFD has held the Golden Axe every year since its first time participating in 2009. While the winner of the Golden Axe will not be revealed until the first of the year, Halsey expressed confidence as no other department came close to the AFD’s numbers last year.

“Thanks to the community for stepping up and filling the boots for us,” he said. “We had another great response from the community.”