Muster puts crews to the test
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — A firefighter’s work is serious business, but at least once a year work turns to play as fire departments across the state participate in the annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention muster.
The Presque Isle Fire Department served as host to the 47th annual event, with activities held at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds from Sept. 10-12, including a Sunday morning muster. This year’s competition saw 14 crews, of the 70 or so departments that attended this year’s convention, compete in four categories: dry line, wet line, water ball and a mystery event selected by the host department.
“This year’s mystery event involved the use of scooters and bicycles, for a type of five-man relay,” said Grant Spinney, of the PIFD and an event organizer.
Departments taking part in this year’s muster included crews from: Bridgewater, Fort Kent, Canton, Mars Hill, West Bath, Easton, Anson, Washburn, Waterville, Ashland, Goodwin Mills, Mapleton, Van Buren and Winslow.
Winners in the dry line hookup were: Anson, taking first; Fort Kent, in second; with Van Buren finishing third.
The wet line event top honors went to: Winslow, in first; Waterville, taking second place; and in third was Van Buren.
Winslow also won the mystery event, followed in second by Ashland, with Anson taking third.
The final event of the day was the water ball competition. Goodwin Mills — which traveled from York County to take part in the convention — received the first-place trophy, with Mars Hill finishing second, followed by Easton in third place.
This year’s Sportsmanship Award went to the crew from the Fort Kent Fire Department.
First-place honors overall went to the crew from the Winslow Fire Department.
The 48th annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention is scheduled to take place in Waterville sometime in 2011.
Staff photos/Kathy McCarty
OOPS! — Improperly fastened hoses created a wet situation for participants of the wet line competition at the annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention muster, held Sept. 12 in Presque Isle.
SECOND-PLACE FINISH — Members of the Ashland Fire Department finished second in the mystery event during the Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention muster, held Sept. 12 in Presque Isle. Pictured in front from left are: Tom Raymond, John Thyng and Robbie Lavertu. In back: Tyler Cote, Aaron McLellan, Harvey McLellan, Myles Bolstridge and Earl Sutherland.
THE WET LINE competition during the 47th annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention had participants struggling to control the line, as pictured by this unidentified fireman.
RAISING THE FLAG proved to be too risky, due to a high wind and the proximity to power lines at the intersection of Main and State streets. Plans had been for the flag to be raised so participants in the 47th annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention Parade could march beneath as they made their way through downtown Presque Isle. But officials scrapped the idea when it was determined to be too much of a danger to participants and spectators below.
BICYCLE RACING in full turn-out gear, using equipment with questionable mechanical abilities, proved daunting for some participants of the mystery event of this year’s state firefighters’ muster.
SCOOTER POWER — The mystery event at this year’s state firefighters’ muster, held in Presque Isle Sept. 12, was a relay race using scooters or bicycles.
