Jul 19, 2010 By Rebekah Sungala 4 min read

GERMAN TWP. – Despite hot temperatures and a few storms, the 72nd annual Fayette County Firemen’s Convention had participation from volunteer fire departments across the county and support from the public every night during the weeklong event. The convention, which began July 11 and concluded Saturday, was jointly hosted by Adah, Edenborn, Footedale, McClellandtown and Ronco volunteer fire departments and commenced with an annual memorial service to pay tribute to county firefighters who died within the last year.

Throughout the week, fire departments battled each other in a series of skill contests organized by the German Township firefighters. All competitions were held in the evenings at the McClellandtown Volunteer Fire Department.

Adah Volunteer Fire Department Chief L.C. Otto, who oversaw the skill contests, said the convention allows community members to learn more about firefighting while supporting their local fire departments.

Twenty-four fire departments participated in the classic “battle of the barrel” held Monday, July 12. The contest pits departments against each other in a competition to see who has more control over the high-powered spray from the fire hose.

A silver barrel is strung over two teams in the middle of a rope, and participants use water from fire hoses to push the barrel to one end of the rope. The team that wins remains in the competition and the team that loses is eliminated.

Dunbar Volunteer Fire Department took first place in the “battle of the barrel” contest, with South Connellsville and Hiller volunteer fire departments taking home second and third place, respectively.

On Tuesday, despite heavy rain and storms, hose-laying competitions were held.

Hiller won the stationary hose lay competition and Fairchance Volunteer Department took second place. Everson Volunteer Fire Department won the donut hose lay competition, and South Brownsville Volunteer Fire Department won second place.

Tug-of-war and fire truck pull competitions were held Wednesday.

The tug-of-war pits teams of firefighters with a total weight less than 1,500 pounds against one another in the classic battle of strength. In the truck pull, firefighters actually pull their fire trucks, trying to move the massive vehicles as quickly as possible.

Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department took home first place in the tug-of-war competition, with New Salem Volunteer Fire Department coming in second.

In the truck pull competition, South Brownsville Volunteer Fire Department placed first and Isabella Volunteer Department placed second.

Isabelle also had an all-female team that made it past the first round.

“A special shout out to the Isabella Girls Team. They held their own, and did a wonderful job. They even beat an all guys team,” Otto said.

The always-popular scaffold and house bucket brigade competitions were held Thursday.

Hopwood won first place in the scaffold bucket competition, with Farmington Volunteer Fire Department winning second place.

Farmington swept the house bucket brigade competition, with two teams from Farmington coming in first and second place.

On Friday, the gear scramble competition was held. The gear scramble is a single-person contest with firefighters beginning in street clothes.

At the sound of a whistle, each contestant is times as they don their fire gear and run 100 feet, where the put on their breathing apparatus.

George Matis Jr. of Republic Volunteer Fire Department won the gear scramble in the junior firefighter age category, which includes teens 14 up to 18.

His father, George Matis Sr., also won in the 46-and-up category.

In the 18- to 31-age category, John Rulli of Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department won.

Rob Leiberger, also of Connellsville Township, won the 32- to 45-age category.

The convention ended Saturday with a parade in McClellandtown followed by an evening concert.

Otto said the convention went well and that participation was great from both firefighters competing in the contests and from the community members who came to watch and cheer on their favorite firefighters.

He thanked everyone who participated in or attended an event, and also thanked all those who helped organize the weeklong convention.

Fairchance Volunteer Fire Department will host next year’s 73rd annual Fayette County Firemen’s Convention.