*See 2016 results below introductory article*
INTRODUCTION
Plumas News, Inside The Fire House Article
By Tom Forster July 28, 2016
Firefighter’s Muster Coming to the Fair
"The first Plumas Sierra County Fair Firefighter’s Muster will be held on Saturday, August 13 at the Fairgrounds in Quincy. Teams from both counties have been invited to compete in what is hoped will become an annual event.
The word “Muster” dates back into the 1400’s in the military, referring to a “gathering of the troops.” Firefighting musters in America date back to 1849, when the first one recorded was held in Bath, Maine. Five hand powered pumpers competed to see who could pump water the farthest. Hand pumpers were also known as hand tubs, and usually included both a small tank and piston pump. Large numbers of people were required to operate them, and many could pump a stream of water over 200 feet.
Following that event, the gatherings expanded throughout the New England area. The fire ‘companies’, as they were known, enjoyed getting together to compete to prove that their group was the best of all who had come together. Firemen, or ‘fire laddies’, as they were commonly called back then, took great pride in their equipment and team, and long-running rivalries often developed with their neighbors.
One of the typical events was the “bucket brigade”, where teams of firemen would pass leather buckets full of water from a tank to fill barrels or an empty tank in the fastest time. Another was hose cart racing, where teams ran with their hose cart, laying a hose line that was then hooked up to a water supply and charged with water. At the other end of the hose line, a fireman with the nozzle knocked down a target with the water stream, and the fastest time winning.
When motorized apparatus came on the scene in the early 1900’s, events were developed that included racing with the engines in the same manner as the hose carts – laying a hose line and knocking down a target. As time went on, musters expanded through the United States and Canada, in addition to overseas. Today there are even firefighter “combat” challenges, where physical fitness is at a premium in the events. Obstacle courses, ladder raises, water fights, hose line ‘make and break’s’, and charged hose line extensions are some of the many events where teams don’t need antique equipment to compete.
This years Plumas Sierra Muster will have four events, none of which require antique equipment, since most of our FD’s do not have much that could be used in competition. While we may joke that some of our front line apparatus is “antique”, in reality there are few hose carts or restored antique apparatus over 50 years old in our area. However, some of the antique apparatus that do exist here will be on display, such as a 1928 Dodge fire engine from Quincy FD, and there will be a demonstration of a hose cart race. Co-ed teams are encouraged - there will not be separate men’s and women’s events.
Our four events this year are 1) the bucket brigade, 2) a charged hose line extension called “The Human Hose Clamp”, 3) a water fight or “water polo” event, and 4) a protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus donning race. Teams of five will compete for both individual and team awards, and the best overall team score will be awarded the perpetual team championship trophy.
Come cheer on your local team! The competition will start tentatively at 4 pm, and will end by 7 pm. Retired California State Fire Marshal Chief Ronny J. Coleman will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Ronny is a recognized expert on fire history, and serves as the volunteer President of the National Fire Heritage Center. He’ll elaborate on the history of fire musters for the crowd."
Plumas News, Inside The Fire House Article
By Tom Forster July 28, 2016
Firefighter’s Muster Coming to the Fair
"The first Plumas Sierra County Fair Firefighter’s Muster will be held on Saturday, August 13 at the Fairgrounds in Quincy. Teams from both counties have been invited to compete in what is hoped will become an annual event.
The word “Muster” dates back into the 1400’s in the military, referring to a “gathering of the troops.” Firefighting musters in America date back to 1849, when the first one recorded was held in Bath, Maine. Five hand powered pumpers competed to see who could pump water the farthest. Hand pumpers were also known as hand tubs, and usually included both a small tank and piston pump. Large numbers of people were required to operate them, and many could pump a stream of water over 200 feet.
Following that event, the gatherings expanded throughout the New England area. The fire ‘companies’, as they were known, enjoyed getting together to compete to prove that their group was the best of all who had come together. Firemen, or ‘fire laddies’, as they were commonly called back then, took great pride in their equipment and team, and long-running rivalries often developed with their neighbors.
One of the typical events was the “bucket brigade”, where teams of firemen would pass leather buckets full of water from a tank to fill barrels or an empty tank in the fastest time. Another was hose cart racing, where teams ran with their hose cart, laying a hose line that was then hooked up to a water supply and charged with water. At the other end of the hose line, a fireman with the nozzle knocked down a target with the water stream, and the fastest time winning.
When motorized apparatus came on the scene in the early 1900’s, events were developed that included racing with the engines in the same manner as the hose carts – laying a hose line and knocking down a target. As time went on, musters expanded through the United States and Canada, in addition to overseas. Today there are even firefighter “combat” challenges, where physical fitness is at a premium in the events. Obstacle courses, ladder raises, water fights, hose line ‘make and break’s’, and charged hose line extensions are some of the many events where teams don’t need antique equipment to compete.
This years Plumas Sierra Muster will have four events, none of which require antique equipment, since most of our FD’s do not have much that could be used in competition. While we may joke that some of our front line apparatus is “antique”, in reality there are few hose carts or restored antique apparatus over 50 years old in our area. However, some of the antique apparatus that do exist here will be on display, such as a 1928 Dodge fire engine from Quincy FD, and there will be a demonstration of a hose cart race. Co-ed teams are encouraged - there will not be separate men’s and women’s events.
Our four events this year are 1) the bucket brigade, 2) a charged hose line extension called “The Human Hose Clamp”, 3) a water fight or “water polo” event, and 4) a protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus donning race. Teams of five will compete for both individual and team awards, and the best overall team score will be awarded the perpetual team championship trophy.
Come cheer on your local team! The competition will start tentatively at 4 pm, and will end by 7 pm. Retired California State Fire Marshal Chief Ronny J. Coleman will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Ronny is a recognized expert on fire history, and serves as the volunteer President of the National Fire Heritage Center. He’ll elaborate on the history of fire musters for the crowd."
See slideshow below of each team, the overall group, and event photos
photos by Kim Eliason Quincy FPD, and Julie Cassou, Quincy and Graeagle FPD's.
**RESULTS** from the first annual Firefighters Muster , August 13, 2016
The Quincy Fire Protection District Team won the overall competition at our muster on Saturday, August 16 in a very close finish. Coming in second overall was the joint team from Eastern Plumas Rural Fire Protection District and Chester FD's. Third place went to the joint team from the City of Portola and Plumas Eureka FD's, and fourth place to the joint team from Loyalton, Graeagle, and Greenhorn Creek FD's.
In a storybook ending, Quincy and Easter Plumas/Chester were tied overall heading in to the final Water Polo/Waterfight event. Both won the elimination heats, and faced off for the final best two out of three. It came down to a final third heat, with Quincy scoring a victory to win the event and the overall team competition.
Thanks to all of our participants - great job overall!
Individual event winners were:
1) Bucket Brigade: Eastern Plumas/Chester 1st, Quincy 2nd, Portola/Plumas Eureka 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th. The winning time was 1:32.
2) Donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus(SCBA): Eastern Plumas/Chester 1st, Quincy 2nd, Portola Plumas Eureka 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th.
Note: fastest personal time in this event was Firefighter/Medic Tony Balbiani of Chester FD in 1:25.
3) Charged Hoseline Extension “The Human Hose Clamp”: Quincy 1st, Portola/Plumas Eureka 2nd, Eastern Plumas/Chester 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th. Quincy’s winning time was 2:18.
4) Water Polo/Water Fight: Quincy 1st; Eastern Plumas/Chester 2nd, Portola/Plumas Eureka 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th.
An overall perpetual trophy was awarded to Quincy, with 2nd and 3rd place plaques. First, second, and third place plaques were awarded in each event, and all participants received a free muster t-shirt courtesy of Sierra Promotions. Chief Robbie Cassou designed the muster t-shirts.
Special thanks and great appreciation go to the Master of Ceremonies Mike Williams, Executive Director of the Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI) and member of the State Board of Fire Services; Judges Ed Cunha, retired Captain from Diamond Springs/El Dorado FD, and Kurt Taylor, retired Battalion Chief from El Dorado County FD. Muster organizers were Chiefs Robbie Cassou, Jim Hamblin, and Tom Forster.
Thanks and great appreciation also to the Quincy FD Support Team for firefighter re-hab services, to John Steffanic, Manager of the Plumas County Fair, and his staff, along with his wife Denise from Sierra Promotions, and to event sponsors Richard Stockton of State Farm and Kirk Lambert of Lambert & Lambert Insurance, and to Jamie from Wild Hare signs for a great muster poster.
Event photographers were Kim Eliason and Julie Cassou from the Quincy Support Team.
Note: Chester FD had a full team that had to cancel due to being our of county on a fire strike team down south, and Sierra County Fire Protection District had a full team that had to cancel the day of the event due to multiple calls including a bad car wreck and a fire. We hope they can both make it next year.
In a storybook ending, Quincy and Easter Plumas/Chester were tied overall heading in to the final Water Polo/Waterfight event. Both won the elimination heats, and faced off for the final best two out of three. It came down to a final third heat, with Quincy scoring a victory to win the event and the overall team competition.
Thanks to all of our participants - great job overall!
Individual event winners were:
1) Bucket Brigade: Eastern Plumas/Chester 1st, Quincy 2nd, Portola/Plumas Eureka 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th. The winning time was 1:32.
2) Donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus(SCBA): Eastern Plumas/Chester 1st, Quincy 2nd, Portola Plumas Eureka 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th.
Note: fastest personal time in this event was Firefighter/Medic Tony Balbiani of Chester FD in 1:25.
3) Charged Hoseline Extension “The Human Hose Clamp”: Quincy 1st, Portola/Plumas Eureka 2nd, Eastern Plumas/Chester 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th. Quincy’s winning time was 2:18.
4) Water Polo/Water Fight: Quincy 1st; Eastern Plumas/Chester 2nd, Portola/Plumas Eureka 3rd, Loyalton/Greenhorn Creek/Graeagle 4th.
An overall perpetual trophy was awarded to Quincy, with 2nd and 3rd place plaques. First, second, and third place plaques were awarded in each event, and all participants received a free muster t-shirt courtesy of Sierra Promotions. Chief Robbie Cassou designed the muster t-shirts.
Special thanks and great appreciation go to the Master of Ceremonies Mike Williams, Executive Director of the Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI) and member of the State Board of Fire Services; Judges Ed Cunha, retired Captain from Diamond Springs/El Dorado FD, and Kurt Taylor, retired Battalion Chief from El Dorado County FD. Muster organizers were Chiefs Robbie Cassou, Jim Hamblin, and Tom Forster.
Thanks and great appreciation also to the Quincy FD Support Team for firefighter re-hab services, to John Steffanic, Manager of the Plumas County Fair, and his staff, along with his wife Denise from Sierra Promotions, and to event sponsors Richard Stockton of State Farm and Kirk Lambert of Lambert & Lambert Insurance, and to Jamie from Wild Hare signs for a great muster poster.
Event photographers were Kim Eliason and Julie Cassou from the Quincy Support Team.
Note: Chester FD had a full team that had to cancel due to being our of county on a fire strike team down south, and Sierra County Fire Protection District had a full team that had to cancel the day of the event due to multiple calls including a bad car wreck and a fire. We hope they can both make it next year.