Harley riders fired up

Wednesday, June 3, 1998 | 10:24 a.m.

About half the Clark County Fire Department members who own Harley Davidson motorcycles have joined an international organization that raises funds for a variety of charities.

Called Wind and Fire, the organization was created in 1991 in Santa Barbara, Calif., and has spread to eight other nations, according to Capt. Alan Osborne.

Osborne joined Wind and Fire two years ago, when he bought a Harley, and decided there might be interest in creation of a local chapter.

At an organizational meeting held Tuesday -- appropriately at the Harley Davidson Cafe -- 16 firefighters became the founding members of the Las Vegas Chapter of Wind and Fire.

Osborn said there are about 32 Harley-owners with the department.

Steven La-Sky, fire department spokesman, said the "Clark County Fire Department has a long-standing tradition of getting involved in charities."

One of the department's oldest fund drives is for muscular dystrophy.

Osborne said almost $3,000 raised recently is being used for children who are burn victims.

To be a member of Wind and Fire, Osborne said, a person must own a Harley Davidson and either be a firefighter or retired firefighter.

He said the chapter will determine which charities to donate funds to in the future.

"The charities are up to the membership," he said.