By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

PELHAM – Those looking to get their car sparking clean while helping to develop youth interest in firefighting will have a chance to do so during an upcoming community car wash.

The Pelham Fire Department Fire Explorer Post 90 will host the car wash on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot of Summer Classics on U.S. 31 just north of Pelham City Hall.

The car wash is free, but donations will be accepted to support the Fire Explorer Post.

Fire Explorer posts are tied to the Boy Scouts of America, and allow children ages 14-21 to get a hands-on feel for careers in the firefighting field.

Pelham firefighter Ricky King said the Pelham Explorer post currently has 20 explorers, and said several previous Explorers have gone on to pursue careers in fire and EMS services.

Each year, the Explorer post competes against other posts at the Trussville Fire Explorer competition. The post climbs 110 floors at the RSA Tower in Montgomery each September in honor of the firefighters who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and also attends the Fire Explorer Weekend at the Alabama Fire College each November.

“The purpose of the car wash is to raise funds for these events and cost for uniforms and gear,” King wrote in an email. “It takes approximately $200 per explorer a year for gear, uniforms, and registration.”