Camaraderie, teamwork biggest prizes at junior firefighter muster
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009
By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Camaraderie. It’s a lesson learned with ease Saturday during the Miller’s Ferry junior fire muster.
It was the first time Miller’s Ferry Fire Department hosted the event, in which 10 teams participated. Teams from Rowan, Davidson, Cabarrus, Forsyth and Iredell counties competed in multiple events throughout Saturday and into the early evening.
Going back to shake the hands of the winners in the day’s second event was an easy gesture, but a powerful one for the junior fire team from Reeds Fire Department in Davidson.
The competition was water ball.
The object of the game was similar to tug of war, except the teams used more than 50 pounds of water pressure to volley a ball across a zipline.
Although the three-person team from Reeds came up short, the lesson lay in their sportsmanship when they congratulated the Granite Quarry team, the winners of the round.
It was a lesson Russell Day, who cheered the team on from the sidelines, was glad they’d learned.
“This is about brotherhood,” Day said.
Day, a safety officer, said he hoped the team walked away from the event having learned about teamwork and camaraderie.
The Reeds team had three members from Reeds and two from nearby Arcadia.
The teams have participated in two other musters in the Thomasville area, Day said.
Saturday’s muster was for firefighters and Explorers ages 14-17. The teams participated in a turnout-gear race, water ball, tug of war, bucket brigade and a combat challenge.
Brittany Alexander is one of only four girls in the Miller’s Ferry junior fire program. But the 16-year-old doesn’t let that stop her.
“I’m not going to let the guys outdo me,” she said before one event.
Alexander has been a junior firefighter since she was 14.
She said the teams have been training for a month and a half. And they dedicated their efforts to Justin Monroe, who died in the Salisbury Millwork fire in March and was a firefighter with Miller’s Ferry.
“The whole Miller’s Ferry, we’re doing this for Justin,” Alexander said.
Trevor Graham, 17 and also with Miller’s Ferry, said it felt good to be the host department for the event.
“I’m hoping to have fun and I hope we do this every year,” Graham said.
Joanne Bostian and her daughter Lori Jones attended to cheer on Tyler, Lori’s 15-year-old son.
Bostian said Tyler has been a junior firefighter since April.
“I’m proud of what he’s doing and proud of him,” Bostian said.
Jones said Tyler has always wanted to be a fireman. His two uncles were firefighters.
Tony Jones, 17, a junior firefighter with the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, took part in his first muster.
“It’s harder than it looks. I thought it would be easy,” Jones said.
It might’ve been harder, but Jones said he was glad for the experience.
The team from Clemmons in Forsyth County probably traveled the farthest for the event, but the distance didn’t faze them.
They got into the spirit, cheering each other on and encouraging their teammates.
“I’m glad to see other Explorers,” David Simpson, 17, said.
It was the Clemmons team’s first muster, but the group had devised strategies to compete. For example, their strategy for the water ball competition was to place someone who was used to handling a hose in front and, because of the water pressure, place a stronger person behind him.
“I’m proud of these guys,” Michael King, 16, said.
The team members from Kannapolis agreed they were having fun at their first competition.
Brandon Daniel, who helps with the Explorers program, said the department hopes it will grow.
“It’s really fun and you get to learn about fire service,” Ryan Cochran, 16, said.
“Everything they teach is hands-on. We get to participate and do the same things they do,” fellow Explorer Joey Childress, 17, said.
Tracy Leonard attended to support her 15-year-old son, Brandon, and others on the Reeds team.
“The juniors are who’s going to make up the fire department one day,” she said.
Leonard said her son has been looking forward to the competition.
Her husband, Tim Leonard, is chief of the Reeds Fire Department.
Ralph Forte also came to support his son, Michael, 15, who is a junior firefighter with Shepherds Volunteer Fire Department in Iredell County.
“I think it’s a great event to show everybody the skills these kids have developed. It’s a great place to showcase it,” Forte said.
“Miller’s Ferry puts on an outstanding event,” he said.
Forte attended with his wife, Maria and their daughter, Taylor.
The following received trophies or awards:
Turnout Gear- 1st place, Franklin, East Spencer, South Iredell combined team
– 2nd place, Linwood team No. 4
– 3rd place, Linwood team No. 7
Water Ball- 1st place, Granite Quarry
– 2nd place, Miller’s Ferry red team
– 3rd place, Franklin, East Spencer, South Iredell combined team
Tug o’ War- 1st place, Linwood team No. 4
– 2nd place, Clemmons
– 3rd place, Shepherd
Bucket Brigade- 1st place, Granite Quarry
– 2nd place, Miller’s Ferry blue team.
– 3rd place Miller’s Ferry red team
Junior Fire Combat Challenge- 1st place, Granite Quarry
– 2nd place, Miller’s Ferry blue team
– 3rd place, Reeds
The Headache Award went to Linwood.
“This award is for the team who put the most heart into it. They had a couple of things that didn’t go smoothly, said Miller’s Ferry Fire Capt. Cale Alligood.
The combined teams of Franklin, East Spencer and South Iredell won the Sportsman’s Award.
“They showed the most sportsmanship and teamwork,” Alligood said.
The overall winner of the competition was the Granite Quarry team.
Alligood said attendance by both spectators and competing teams was great.
“Miller’s Ferry Fire Department appreciated the turnout. The teams put their all into it,” he said.
He also expressed thanks for the parents, firefighters and other role models who gave their time to support the teams.
“A big thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible,” Alligood said.
Granite Quarry will host next year’s muster.