The gloves are off and the challenge issued.

“If you think firefighters are hot, wait till you see Team Santa Clarita.”

That should be on a T-shirt somewhere.

It just might be what the deputies from Santa Clarita Valley station will be wearing as they whip up their first competitive batches of salsa for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Annual Stars and Stripes Barbeque and Salsa Showdown, set for Saturday, June 2.

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“We are competing for the first time,” explained Deputy Josh Dubin, head cook and bottle washer for the hotstuff team. “It’s a station unity, community involvement, good time event, with something for kids and adults.”

“A couple of our deputies have some pretty good salsa recipes, so our team is up to the challenge. We entered two salsas, hot and medium. Hopefully, people will choose us.”

Don’t let Dubin’s mild manner fool you. He hinted that the salsa chefs might just need the help of their fellow deputies – from the Homicide Bureau.

”Well, our salsa is named ‘Suicide;” Dubin said.

The showdown, which involves cooks from many of the sheriff’s department divisions as well as the public, also features several styles of barbecue and salsas of the mild, medium and hot variety.

The second annual event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jack Bones Equestrian Center, the same place that draws thousands to the annual Fun In the Sun Chili Cookoff.

The event is open to the public and features BBQ booths, salsa booths, a Kid’s Zone, food and drink vendors, live music, race car displays, games, retail vendors, military displays, LASD Department displays, and more.

Competitors from throughout Southern California will compete to show who makes the best medium, hot, or sweet salsa, who grills up the best chicken wings, and who smokes the best pork roasts, pork ribs and beef brisket. In addition to the food offered by the competitors, a variety of food vendors will offer everything from ice cream to barbeque.

Admission is only $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 7-14, and free for children 6 and under. Admission includes a BBQ/Salsa tasting card, entitling the bearer to sample the entries and vote on their favorites for the “People’s Choice” awards.

The Jack Bones Equestrian Center is located at 26893 Tapia Canyon Road, Castaic, California. Free parking is available at the event, which will be held rain or shine.

Proceeds will benefit Special Olympics of Southern California, 999 for Kids, Wives Behind the Badge, and LASD Motorsports. Only service animals may be brought into the event. There are no ATM’s at the event.

The event website at www.alanar.net/BBQ has information on sponsoring the event, competing, or being a vendor. For additional information, contact Tabitha Youngstrom at (661) 294-6309, email the event committee at BBQ@LASD.org, or visit the event on Facebook. Information is also available at www.PDCEvents.org .