Local propane company fuels Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast

REDDING, Calif. — Friday morning over 10,000 people will flood into downtown Redding for the Asphalt Cowboys Annual Pancake Breakfast.

Each person gets a traditional cowboy's breakfast: two pancakes, sausage and coffee, juice or milk, but what goes on behind the scenes in putting this event together is somewhat of a tradition itself.

The same company has donated their propane tanks since the breakfast started in 1954 and continues that contribution this year. This year the Asphalt Cowboys expect to host 10,000 to 12,000 people.

With over 20,000 pancakes to flip, the Asphalt Cowboys bring the kitchen to the streets of downtown Redding. While they're setting up for a big morning ahead, volunteer, Terry Spade says Campora Propane, formally known as Frambes, donates all the propane.

"We have to have this size of tanks because they use so much of it so quickly, it'll freeze up. So what we do is we provide more than they need," Spade explained cooking thousands of flapjacks will suck up 40 to 60 percent of each hundred net gallon propane tank.

Spade worked with Campora Propane in Redding for 31 years. Retired now, Spade continues to donate his time for Asphalt Cowboy events, making sure everything goes smoothly with the propane set up.

The Pancake Breakfast is May 18 from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m in "Roaring Gulch" on Market St. between South St. and Placer St.

Tickets are $4 beforehand and $5 at the event. For more information head to The Asphalt Cowboy's website.