Always a busy place, the main intersection in Escalon will be even more packed this weekend.

Escalon firefighters will be out with their turnout boots in hand at the Highway 120/McHenry Avenue/Escalon-Bellota Road area collecting funds for the Firefighters Burn Institute in Sacramento.

Coordinator Jennifer Cannon said the drive will run on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 starting at 8 a.m. each day and running through roughly 4 p.m.

Some extra activities are also being planned this year, said Cannon, at the staging area for the department in the parking lot adjacent to True Value Hardware and McDowell’s Towing.

“We will have a kid’s zone that will have a station for them to put on turnouts,” Cannon said. “They can have their pictures taken with the firefighters and check out the fire engine.”

The kids area will be open on Saturday and will also include a small obstacle course for youngsters to try.

“We will have a representative from the Firefighters Burn Institute on site that day and Sparky the fire dog will definitely be out there,” Cannon added.

Firefighters work all corners of the intersection during the Fill the Boot drive, collecting donations for the institute. Motorists that donate are given a flyer to post on their windshield. That way, they aren’t asked for donations multiple times if they drive through the area again during the weekend.