Fire departments gather for competition

While children climbed on firetrucks and took lessons in fire safety, a few firefighters were able to dazzle them with their skills Sunday at the third annual Cape Firetruck Rally at Capaha Park.

For the first year at the rally, four competitions were featured as a means to develop stronger relations with the community and among firefighters.

"It gets the equipment out in the community a little more so that they can see what they are paying for," said Cape Girardeau firefighter Brad Martin.

Cape Girardeau, East County, Millersville and Jackson fire districts competed against each other in a bucket brigade, a water fight, a hose relay and a tug of war. The competitions were a demonstration of how the departments train and how the equipment works. Afterward, children were allowed to handle the equipment in smaller-scale competitions.

The most involving competition, the hose relay, incorporated the most skills from various drills. Each team of three firefighters needed to pull on pants and adjust suspenders. Put on coats and secure helmets. Work fingers into gloves. Toss three coiled hoses as straight as possible and connect them. Attach a nozzle to one end, while one firefighter waited by the faucet. And aim a stream of water at a bucket to knock it over.

"Every time, you learn something different," Jackson firefighter Andrew Juden said, and in his case, "I need to wear my suspenders." Just after he uncoiled the hose, he was corrected and had step aside to put on his suspenders.

Aside from learning how to compete and establishing camaraderie, departments take advantage of the time spent together.

"It helps develop interdepartmental relations," said Cape Girardeau firefighter Chris Carter, who facilitated the competitions. Departments swap ideas on how to improve equipment function and better trust one another when more than one department is called to a scene.

The bucket brigade required teams to toss buckets water onto the roof of a mock house, where the water ran into a gutter and then into a barrel. Whoever collected the most water in two minutes won. The water fight required two teams to aim hoses of water at a tin barrel suspended on a wire. Whoever most frequently touched designated notches won.

"Next year is going to be bigger and better," Carter said. Plans are to invite more than 10 departments for the competition and a awarding a traveling trophy that will pass among the winning departments year to year like a heavyweight championship boxing belt.

The firetruck rally drew hundreds of people who brought their children and pets.

Firetrucks were the main attraction for children, said Capt. Sam Welker of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department. Models ranged from an 1875 hand pump to a 1916 motorized version to the newest model.

"They get to see them, but they never get to touch them," Welker said.

jmetelski@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127