It was announced today that the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will be hosting an event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11/01, and to thank the cities' own first responders and other agency personnel who participated in extinguishing this summer's Gulf State Park fire. The fire that was initially sparked on June 25 was not fully contained until July 2 and required the services of approximately 300 personnel from the Alabama Forest Service, Gulf State Park, the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Fire Departments and 10 other area fire departments and agencies.

The fire eventually consumed approximately 900 acres of forest land and at times threatened Orange Beach public facilities, businesses and residences and Baldwin EMC's high voltage lines which run through the park.

The function will be held at the Orange Beach Community Center on Sept. 11, from 2-4:00 p.m. and the public is invited to attend and pay tribute to those who were lost in the 9/11 disaster, those who have fought the war on terror since that date and the local "first responders." Presentations will be made by Gulf Shores' Mayor Robert Craft and Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon, as well as as by representatives of the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, Baldwin EMC, Power South and the Gulf Shores Kiwanis Club, which are jointly sponsoring the event.