Fire companies face off in Saxonburg Water Battle
SAXONBURG — Ten fire departments spent their evening Wednesday, June 24, engaged in rigorous competition with surrounding departments for first, second and third place at the Saxonburg Water Battle.
“We really appreciate all of the mutual aid companies that we have here, between Herman and Sarver, Buffalo and Penn, and it’s kind of fun, because we know them all,” president of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company Mark Burd said.
The battle, a part of the 95th annual Fireman’s Carnival, is organized by the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company. The event is a longstanding annual tradition in Saxonburg, one that Burd has seen continue for decades.
“This is a tradition that goes back multiple decades,” Burd said. “I mean, this goes back to the 1960s when I started.”
The teams of up to four firemen were set up in brackets to face off in one-on-one match ups. Each match-up took the best of three to find the winner. The playing grounds spanned 100 feet of Saxonburg’s Main Street with a barrel on a wire in the middle.
Once the whistle blows, teams spray the barrel with a hose, attempting to get it past the other team’s goal line. After two minutes, whichever team is closest to the goal wins.
“You have to get the barrel behind that mark to end it before two minutes,” Dave Rennick, assistant chief of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company said.
Each team that comes together for the competition has a unique strategy to get the barrel to the other side. Burd said some companies even train for the competition ahead of time.
“(There’s a) certain way you attack the other team and you want to get them off balance and once you start moving, you’ll see it,” Burd said.
An unexpected equipment malfunction halted the battle for a short time after the barrel came loose from the wire, but that couldn’t stop the fun.
The coupling that holds the barrel was designed by firemen to allow more movement out of it.
“It’s a special attachment that allows the barrel to swivel as it turns,” Burd said.
The hoses may have been too strong for the newly designed piece. After coming off for a third time, the last round was called early to prioritize safety.
Herman Volunteer Fire Company And Relief Association took home the third place plaque after multiple tense matches. The third-place team was comprised of four firemen, Ron Marsico, Cody Marsico, Hunter Oregan and Kylie Marsico.
Once the final round for first place was ended early due to the barrel malfunction, it was decided that the Herman Volunteer Fire Company would be taking the second-place plaque. The second-place team was led by CJ Harper, Josh Barto, Bobby Williams and Justine Keene.
After taking on four other companies, the West Deer Volunteer Fire Department #2 took home the first-place prize, winning a gold plaque. The championship team included by Frank McCordle, Jon Moore, AJ Schmidt and Adam Williams.
