If you haven’t seen a muster, you’ve missed out. They’re absolutely better than a Rugby game. Well, at least as exciting. Here are three of the regulation competitions.
HOSE CART RACES
The hose cart race is one of the competitions. In the 1800s, pumper companies delivered water to fight those old-time fires, but not without hose companies arriving on the scene, too. Firemen of both companies raced through narrow streets, their high-wheeled equipment in tow to reach the burning building and prevent the fire from spreading. The hose cart races reenact those scenes from the last century, but now the competition is only against the clock.
There are two separate contests, men’s and women’s. In each, six people run their hose cart beyond the target to a nozzle platform. One team member connects the hose to the hydrant while two others attach the nozzle, take aim at the target, and pray for a steady hand and the best time to give them a first place.
Sonora Volunteer Fire Department Hose Cart |
Bucket Brigade Competition |
Mortorized Fire Truck Competition, Fairfield Fire Department |
Quote of the Week: “Better to be busy than to be busy worrying.” Angela Lansbury
Alexa S. Winters says
I've never been to one of these, but it sounds really interesting! The sort of fascinating inspiring that makes one want to write a story set in those times. 🙂
Cool quote!
Alexa
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Cathrina Constantine says
That looks like loads of fun!!! And Good Quote!!!
Libby says
I would love to try a bucket brigade, but I feel like my arms would fall off shortly after the start. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know mine would.
Heather M. Gardner says
Every few years some of the firehouses around here get a bee in their bonnet and do these again. Usually when it's a group of new young guys. I've seen quite a few. There are groups on Long Island that still compete, I think. It's amazing to watch and lots of fun.
Thanks for sharing.
Heather
C. Lee McKenzie says
How lucky for you to be able to see those games. I love going and cheering from the sidelines.
klahanie says
Hey superstar celebrity author, n'stuff, Lee,
Great post! Thanks for sharing! Following!
Ahem, fascinating, informative and makes me realise what it must of been like for the fire folks, way back when.
Did you know that the Canadian version is named the "Hoser" cart race? Eh!
Yes, as always, your starstuckest fan,
Gary 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hoser is a perfect name. And no I didn't know that. Thanks for SHARING.
klahanie says
Hey Lee!
There you go! Some fascinating Canadian knowledge I have shared with you. If you ever watched Bob and Doug McKenzie, you'd hear the reference to "hoser".
It's good to share and you are welcome.
Have a nice rest of your weekend.
Gary
Medeia Sharif says
This looks like a workout and fun to watch.
Sherry Ellis says
I never knew there were such fun games in the fire-fighting business!
Crystal Collier says
What a fun time! It's been way too long since we got out to a community event like that.
Misha Gericke says
It must be so exciting to watch. 🙂
Yolanda Renee says
Wow, such excitement, and what a great way to stay in shape for the real thing. These guys are heroes! So glad they have better equipment today, such a difficult way to fight a fire!
C. Lee McKenzie says
The women are pretty awesome, too! I'll have to find some pictures of them doing their stuff.
Birgit says
This just shows how strong and fast the old firemen had to be. This would be fun to watch as long as one isn't too close to get wet:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
That happens once in a while. But Nevada was hot, so the water was a welcomed relief.
sage says
On the island where I live and am a volunteer firefighter (and currently on the injured reserve list as I'll have surgery on my quad tendon in the morning), there are a few locations we'd still have to draft water out of a lagoon or swimming pool–but thankfully most places we have hydrants. Using that old equipment would be fun.
C. Lee McKenzie says
So in your case, these competitions are for real. Good luck on that surgery!
Kelly Steel says
Sounds so much fun!
Mark Noce says
Nice:) It's funny the games we humans will invent for fun, but if someone forced us to do it we'd refuse;)
C. Lee McKenzie says
These were originally created for the firemen to blow off steam. Now they're a wonderful glimpse into the past and a great excuse for a party.
emaginette says
And I thought all the fun was at the Fall Fair. I really need to start reading my memos. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
J.L. Campbell says
Hi, Lee, a couple more things that I didn't know existed. Thanks for enlightening me.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I always find things out here in blog land that I never knew about.
TBM says
I probably could follow these competitions better than I can Rugby. Not sure I could compete, though.
Nicola says
Sounds fantastic. I love the final photograph of the fire car. Very 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. Love it!! Have a great week, Lee.
C. Lee McKenzie says
They did look so boxy. Amazing that they actually arrived and put out any fires.
lorilmaclaughlin.com says
I've never heard of a muster. They do look like a lot of fun. That bucket brigade competition would be great on a hot summer day. Love that Angela Lansbury quote.
Shooting Stars Mag says
Wow, sounds like a tough competition!! Thanks for sharing about the details.
-Lauren
Christine Rains says
They look like so much fun! 🙂 Have a lovely week.
Jemi Fraser says
Those are fun competitions! Those people must be in great shape!! 🙂
dolorah says
Sometimes we forget how "convenient" the modern age is. Those contests would be fun to watch.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's why I love history. It makes me understand just what I should appreciate these days.
DMS says
I have never heard of these games. Sounds like they would be fun to watch! Definitely exciting!
~Jess
C. Lee McKenzie says
They're fun!
Beverly Stowe McClure says
This is so interesting. My grandparents met when Grandmother's house caught fire and Grand father was one of the young men that put it out. This was in the late 1890s. A few years ago our neighbors house burned to the ground. Since we live in the country, there are no fire hydrants and the firefighters had only what water was on their trucks. Not enough to save the house. I'd like to watch some of these events.
C. Lee McKenzie says
What great stories, Beverly. I love that your grandfather met your grandmother while trying to save her house from fire!
Lexa Cain says
That's so exciting! I bet they have a lot of fun. I'd cheer them on and stay out of the way of the water! 🙂
DEZMOND says
I'd never win in it 🙂
Kelly Hashway says
Wow, this looks intense!
Chrys Fey says
I never even heard of these competitions before but they sounds like fun. I'd enjoy rooting for a team for a race and participating in the bucket competition.
Bish Denham says
One way to stay cool on a hot summer day! Angela Lansbury's quote is spot on.
nashvillecats2 says
Looks like fun Lee. loved the photo's and post.
Yvonne.
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
That sounds like something fun to see and participate in. Firemen have to be good teammates.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The team work is what makes the competition exciting to watch.
Pat Hatt says
That would sure wear out the body, but they sound like fun to watch and do.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Most of those people do work up a sweat, especially under the hot Nevada sun.
H.R. Sinclair, Southpaw says
That would be great to watch. And there'd be some history learnin' too.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's the learnin' part whats fun!
Sarah Foster says
Looks exhausting! But would probably be fun to watch 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's a great way to spend time and drink a cold beer!
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – they sound fun … and I'd love to be able to watch one – hard work, but so involving … interesting how we create activity from something that was so essential in those early days … cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
It is interesting that we've turned something essential to saving lives into something fun.
L. Diane Wolfe says
Those would be so fun! But I imagine quite exhausting.
C. Lee McKenzie says
They tire me out, and I'm only watching.
Natalie Aguirre says
Sounds like a fun competition. Interesting how we made excitement and fun back then and celebrated firemen and their skills.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The Muster is fun and does celebrate the history of the fire department.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Those sound like fun competitions to watch. And participate in. Gives everyone an appreciation for what firemen had to do in the past.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The endurance had to be quite something.