There’s something about fall weather and chili — that spicy red stew and all-American comfort food.

At the Federal Way Farmers Market Chili Cook-off, police and firefighters have battled for chili supremacy for five years.

The competitive nature of the event has resulted in a chili connoisseur’s paradise: Some batches have beans, some have steak, some come with condiments like diced onions and lime. The cops and firefighters take their chili seriously, fine-tuning every nuance to impress the judges and the public.

This year’s charity chili cook-off was held Sept. 29. Proceeds (still being tallied) benefit Special Olympics Washington, the South King Firefighters Foundation and the farmers market. The winners:

• First place: South King Fire’s Shark Pit Chili Company (Jeff Hamel, team captain)

• Second place: Fire chefs (Gordie Olson, team captain)

• Third place: Federal Way police’s Weapon of Mass Deliciousness (Andy Hwang, team captain)

• People’s choice: Weapon of Mass Deliciousness

The winners (firefighters) will have tacos served to them by the losers (police) on Oct. 11 at Puerto Vallarta in Twin Lakes.

Last year’s cook-off raised more than $4,000 for charities. The public did not leave hungry. With the corn bread, salad, drink and chili samples from nearly a dozen stations, the $10 ticket was quite a deal.

To learn more about the Federal Way Farmers Market, visit federalwayfarmersmarket.com or call Karla at (253) 261-8157.