Photo above: Quincy's Championship team in the bucket brigade, (l-r) Assistant Chief Frank Carey, Captain David Schmid, Firefighter Dean Laroski, Firefighter Jake Hutson, Firefighter Keith Barnett. Photo by Kim Eliason, Quincy Support Team
Story originally published in Plumas News - Inside the Fire House Column
By Tom Forster
August 23, 2017
Quincy Wins 2017 Firefighter’s Muster at Plumas Sierra County Fair!
A proud team of five firefighters from the Quincy Fire Protection District won the annual Muster at the Fair, for the second year in a row. Taking first place in three of the four events, Quincy dominated the Muster, losing only in the Water Polo competition.
Fire Musters in America date back to 1849, when the first one was held in Bath, Maine. They often feature events with historical equipment, but the Plumas County one was designed to allow FD’s without antique fire engines and other apparatus to join in the fun.
The half-day competition featured four events: 1) the Chief Jim Hamblin Bucket Brigade (named in honor of the Indian Valley Chief), 2) a race donning protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus, 3) a charged fire hose line extension nicknamed “The Human Hose Clamp,” and 4) the “Water Polo” event. While six teams were originally signed up to compete, three had to drop out due to accumulated schedule backups, following the emergency coverage for structure protection in Quincy during the Minerva Fire.
Thankfully, the fire was mostly contained by the day of the event, and all local government resources had been released. A last-minute call for a fourth team was met graciously by firefighters coming together from the Eastern Plumas Rural, Chester, and Quincy FD’s. Special thanks were given to this group, who did not have time to practice together given the late entry.
Besides Quincy and the “Hybrid All-Stars” as they came to be called, the other teams were from the Portola FD, and a joint team from Graeagle and Plumas Eureka FD’s. With Quincy coming in first place overall, there was a tie for second place between the Portola and Graeagle/Plumas Eureka teams, and the hybrid team came in 3rd place.
Volunteer Master of Ceremonies Mike Williams, an appointed member of the California State Board of Fire Services, traveled up from Santa Barbara County for the weekend, bringing his own amplified sound system for the Muster. Mike also serves as the Executive Director of the Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI), a non-profit that supports the volunteer fire service. Joining him was retired California State Fire Marshal Ronny J. Coleman, who served as the historian to help explain the background of the events to the spectators. Coleman, a fire service legend who has authored 18 fire service books among many other accomplishments, serves as the Chairman of the National Fire Heritage Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The non-profit NFHC is working to preserve and document fire service history.
Williams commented on what he thought was “… the fantastic sportsmanship and comradery between the teams. It was a terrific experience for all involved. Memories of the days of the historical American colonial fire service came alive at the Muster, with a competition that the spectators, including many children, really seemed to enjoy. I had a great time.”
Coleman enjoyed yet another Muster, one of hundreds he has been to over his more than sixty years in the fire service. “I love coming up to Plumas County, and really had a lot of fun. Plumas County should be very proud of their firefighters,” he said, “I hope to make it back next year.”
Special recognition from the muster organizers were given to Denise and John Steffanic, who donated the muster t-shirts for the competitors and all awards, through their Portola-based business Sierra Promotions. Special thanks were also given to Richard Stockton of State Farm Insurance in Quincy, Kirk and Dana Lambert of Lambert & Lambert Insurance in Portola, and Tom Goss of Farmers Insurance in Quincy for their generous sponsorship of the muster.
By Tom Forster
August 23, 2017
Quincy Wins 2017 Firefighter’s Muster at Plumas Sierra County Fair!
A proud team of five firefighters from the Quincy Fire Protection District won the annual Muster at the Fair, for the second year in a row. Taking first place in three of the four events, Quincy dominated the Muster, losing only in the Water Polo competition.
Fire Musters in America date back to 1849, when the first one was held in Bath, Maine. They often feature events with historical equipment, but the Plumas County one was designed to allow FD’s without antique fire engines and other apparatus to join in the fun.
The half-day competition featured four events: 1) the Chief Jim Hamblin Bucket Brigade (named in honor of the Indian Valley Chief), 2) a race donning protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus, 3) a charged fire hose line extension nicknamed “The Human Hose Clamp,” and 4) the “Water Polo” event. While six teams were originally signed up to compete, three had to drop out due to accumulated schedule backups, following the emergency coverage for structure protection in Quincy during the Minerva Fire.
Thankfully, the fire was mostly contained by the day of the event, and all local government resources had been released. A last-minute call for a fourth team was met graciously by firefighters coming together from the Eastern Plumas Rural, Chester, and Quincy FD’s. Special thanks were given to this group, who did not have time to practice together given the late entry.
Besides Quincy and the “Hybrid All-Stars” as they came to be called, the other teams were from the Portola FD, and a joint team from Graeagle and Plumas Eureka FD’s. With Quincy coming in first place overall, there was a tie for second place between the Portola and Graeagle/Plumas Eureka teams, and the hybrid team came in 3rd place.
Volunteer Master of Ceremonies Mike Williams, an appointed member of the California State Board of Fire Services, traveled up from Santa Barbara County for the weekend, bringing his own amplified sound system for the Muster. Mike also serves as the Executive Director of the Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI), a non-profit that supports the volunteer fire service. Joining him was retired California State Fire Marshal Ronny J. Coleman, who served as the historian to help explain the background of the events to the spectators. Coleman, a fire service legend who has authored 18 fire service books among many other accomplishments, serves as the Chairman of the National Fire Heritage Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The non-profit NFHC is working to preserve and document fire service history.
Williams commented on what he thought was “… the fantastic sportsmanship and comradery between the teams. It was a terrific experience for all involved. Memories of the days of the historical American colonial fire service came alive at the Muster, with a competition that the spectators, including many children, really seemed to enjoy. I had a great time.”
Coleman enjoyed yet another Muster, one of hundreds he has been to over his more than sixty years in the fire service. “I love coming up to Plumas County, and really had a lot of fun. Plumas County should be very proud of their firefighters,” he said, “I hope to make it back next year.”
Special recognition from the muster organizers were given to Denise and John Steffanic, who donated the muster t-shirts for the competitors and all awards, through their Portola-based business Sierra Promotions. Special thanks were also given to Richard Stockton of State Farm Insurance in Quincy, Kirk and Dana Lambert of Lambert & Lambert Insurance in Portola, and Tom Goss of Farmers Insurance in Quincy for their generous sponsorship of the muster.
The Official Results
1) The Chief Jim Hamblin Bucket Brigade
First Place: Quincy, 1:35
Second Place: Portola, 1:50
Third Place: Graeagle/Plumas Eureka 1:55
Fourth Place: Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy Hybrid 2:05
2) The Personal Protective Clothing & Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Donning Race
First Place: Quincy, total time of team members = 7:18
Second Place: Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy Hybrid, total time of team members = 8:26
Third Place: Graeagle/Plumas Eureka, total time of team members = 9:10
Fourth Place: Portola, total time of team members = 9:30
Note: Fastest individual time was Dean Laroski, Quincy, 1:01
3) The Human Hose Clamp, Charged 2.5" Hose Line Extension
First Place: Quincy, 1:31
Second Place: Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy Hybrid, 1:44
Third Place: Graeagle/Plumas Eureka, total time of team members = 1:50
Fourth Place: Portola, total time of team members = 2:09
4) Water Polo
First round eliminations
Portola vs. Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy: winner Portola
Quincy vs. Graeagle/Plumas Eureka: winner Graeagle Plumas Eureka
Second Round for 3rd Place
Quincy vs. Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural: winner Quincy
Third Round for Championship
Portola vs. Graeagle/Plumas Eureka: winner and Champion Portola
**Final Rankings of 2017 Plumas Sierra County Fair Firefighters Muster**
First Place: Quincy FPD
Tie for Second Place: Portola FD, and Graeagle/Plumas Eureka Joint Team
Third Place: Chester FD/Eastern Plumas RuralFPD/Quincy FPD Hybrid All-Stars
First Place: Quincy, 1:35
Second Place: Portola, 1:50
Third Place: Graeagle/Plumas Eureka 1:55
Fourth Place: Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy Hybrid 2:05
2) The Personal Protective Clothing & Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Donning Race
First Place: Quincy, total time of team members = 7:18
Second Place: Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy Hybrid, total time of team members = 8:26
Third Place: Graeagle/Plumas Eureka, total time of team members = 9:10
Fourth Place: Portola, total time of team members = 9:30
Note: Fastest individual time was Dean Laroski, Quincy, 1:01
3) The Human Hose Clamp, Charged 2.5" Hose Line Extension
First Place: Quincy, 1:31
Second Place: Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy Hybrid, 1:44
Third Place: Graeagle/Plumas Eureka, total time of team members = 1:50
Fourth Place: Portola, total time of team members = 2:09
4) Water Polo
First round eliminations
Portola vs. Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural/Quincy: winner Portola
Quincy vs. Graeagle/Plumas Eureka: winner Graeagle Plumas Eureka
Second Round for 3rd Place
Quincy vs. Chester/Eastern Plumas Rural: winner Quincy
Third Round for Championship
Portola vs. Graeagle/Plumas Eureka: winner and Champion Portola
**Final Rankings of 2017 Plumas Sierra County Fair Firefighters Muster**
First Place: Quincy FPD
Tie for Second Place: Portola FD, and Graeagle/Plumas Eureka Joint Team
Third Place: Chester FD/Eastern Plumas RuralFPD/Quincy FPD Hybrid All-Stars
Photographs
Our thanks for the photography below go to Kim Eliason, Quincy Fire Protection District Support Team, and Maureen Forster, Plumas Eureka and Graeagle FD's Photographer.
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