PLAINFIELD — A permanent barbecue pit recently constructed at the Plainfield Public Safety Complex will debut during Sunday afternoon’s chicken barbecue fundraiser, an annual tradition being held for the 53rd time.

The large barbecue pit, with a cement base and cinder block sides, was put together by members of the Plainfield Volunteer Firefighters Association and other volunteers at the 38 North Central St. site, next to the town ballfield. It replaces a long used, but deteriorating, portable metal barbecue pit that was created by cutting a trailer tank in half.

“A couple of guys thought about building a block barbecue pit because the metal one was failing,” said Ron Weeks, a Plainfield fire officer who oversaw the construction project.

He and others identified a section of the safety complex site as appropriate for the permanent pit, after the barbecue had already been moved there in recent years from a site near the town offices. The new site has more parking, several picnic tables and space under a pavilion, good in case of inclement weather, and better access to facilities.

Weeks, who runs R & H Weeks Trucking, said work on the permanent barbecue pit began back in April by clearing the area of trees and brush. “We wanted to take a space that wasn’t being used and transform it for use by the town,” Weeks said.

About 10 volunteers then pitched in to help, putting in well over 100 hours of work to get the structure ready. The barbecue pit uses about $1,400 in materials, Weeks said.

Completing the project also depended on donations, with George D. Judd and Sons of Goshen providing a 6,000-pound stone that is positioned next to the barbecue pit and which will be used as a table. Poppies Concessions donated the crushed stone.

Organizers have already done a test fire to make sure that it would be ready and will function for Sunday, with enough room on it to cook all the chicken, baked potatoes and corn on the cob that are part of the meal. “We’re not exactly professionals in making a barbecue pit,” Weeks said.

The annual Sunday of Labor Day event is a major fundraiser that brings in thousands of dollars each year to support the fire department’s work, said association president Dan Shearer, also a fire officer.

Money raised covers some operations, including training of firefighters, buying equipment like coats and flashlights, and helping with the town’s acquisition of vehicles, trucks and command cars.

Shearer said he expects the fire to be lit around 8:15 a.m. and the food to be cooked over the next several hours, with about 400 meals being readied. As always, the meal includes half a barbecued chicken, locally-grown baked potato, corn on the cob, homemade cole slaw, dinner roll, slice of watermelon, and a beverage and a piece of cake.

Tickets, which are $17 for adults and $9 for children, can be purchased in advance from any Plainfield firefighter and EMT. As the total number of meals served is limited, tickets should be purchased before the event, though Shearer said there would likely be tickets available for anyone who comes last minute.

Along with the meal, there will also be a band performing and raffle tickets sold to win gift certificates, homemade crafts and children’s bicycles.

Visitors can also see equipment and visit with Smokey Bear, the District 10 fire warden and the firefighters.

Other town events are also expected coincide with the barbecue at the town offices and the Shaw Memorial Library, including 1.1-mile Plainfield Road Race during which runners will circle Plainfield center, and winners will have their names engraved on a trophy ball.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.