TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- As part of Firefighter Appreciation Month, ABC30 is recognizing some of our local departments and all they do to keep us safe.

On Thursday, the Tulare Fire Department joined the community to kick off the 19th annual Tulare Rotary 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive, honoring the lives lost in the September 11 attacks and supporting local patients in need.

The event, held in partnership with the Central California Blood Center, drew an estimated 700 donors, a significant increase from the few dozen who participated when the drive first began nearly two decades ago.

Tulare Fire Chief Michael Ott said the event holds deep meaning for his department, which has supported the blood drive for several years.

"343 firefighters died that day, and we continue to lose firefighters

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