Fire Fighters Fight For First
Lander, WY
Written by Cyd Hoefle
Photographed by Stu Hoefle and Crystal Magee
The temperature hovered at 90 degrees as the fire truck with five men on board roared from the starting point and began barreling across the pavement. As the truck passed a fire hydrant one of the firemen jumped off the back with the end of the firehose in one hand and a wrench in the other. He worked feverishly and efficiently to hook up the hose and send water down the line as quickly as possible.
As the truck continued, firehose uncoiled from the back before the truck came to a stop. Crutched on the running board, the axe man was the first off. He raced to a patch of thick plywood covering a hole dug in the pavement. Using brute strength and a sharp axe, he began chopping through the wooden cover creating an opening just large enough to fit a special nozzle on the firehose. Meanwhile, his remaining teammates had jumped off the truck to unfurl the hose, nozzle it and rush to the hole. As quickly as the axe man’s work was complete, the hose was in, water was flowing, and the timer was stopped. From start to finish, 15 seconds had passed and the team from Torrington, Wyoming had taken the lead.
“It’s a camaraderie the guys share. They work hard, and this is a time to have a little fun and get away for a weekend.”
That particular contest, called the “Cellar Contest,” was one of five timed events at the Annual State Firemen’s Association Convention held in Lander, Wyoming this past June. The convention’s 89th year drew volunteer firefighting departments from communities across Wyoming, with nine teams competing from the city and rural departments of Afton, Torrington, and Lander and the rural departments of Riverton, Wheatland and Newcastle.
There are several events in which volunteer fire men and women compete. Each competition simulates real scenarios which could occur while on a fire. The Cellar Contest, for example, mimics the steps taken if firemen were to approach a fire from a roof top. Other events over the four-day weekend required replacing hoses, changing connections, climbing ladders, and hitting targets. The roles of the nozzle man, strap man, axe man, clamp man, plug man and driver were all important as each contest depended on the accuracy and speed of each.
Dennis Estes of Torrington, a volunteer fireman of 35 years, competed for 26 years before becoming a timer for the events. He was a member of the record-setting Cellar Contest team which completed the event in an astounding 14.12 seconds in 2006.
“I want Torrington to win of course,” he said. “But I still like being able to tell the younger guys that they haven’t beat us yet!”
Dennis spent eight years as the fire chief in Torrington before his retirement and now enjoys attending the Convention each year to not only support his team but also catch up with old friends from other communities.
“We get to know everyone,” he said. “The host town rolls out the red carpet for the event and it’s a full weekend of fun.”
The participating communities rotate hosting the annual event and look forward to sharing their hospitality. Lander was no exception using first-class equipment in the competition and showcasing the occasion in its beautiful city park.
The convention has seen little change in its 89-year run. Retired 60-year volunteer fireman, Eugene Dietrich, the oldest volunteer, from Newcastle has been attending these competitions for just as many years – 40 as a competitor and the last 20 as a timer.
“It’s a camaraderie the guys share,” he said. “They work hard, and this is a time to have a little fun and get away for a weekend.”
At 81, he’s still very active in the volunteer fire department community. He’s been involved in the state association for years and is currently serving as the executive secretary. Gene has been instrumental in helping the volunteer fire departments maintain two unique programs.
In an ingenious move, the Wyoming Volunteer Fireman’s Association (WVFA) implemented a pension plan for retiring volunteers who were active for a decade or longer. Years ago, WVFA approached the state about dedicating a percentage of tax dollars insurance companies pay from premiums through casualty and fire insurance toward pension funds for volunteer firefighters. The state agreed and a program was set in place.
“We also pay dues toward it,” Gene added. “So, when a guy retires, they get a little extra help. It’s a monthly payment that goes on until their death.”
As another service to the firefighters, 34 years ago a mutual aid plan was enacted which provides financial support to families upon any volunteer fireman’s death. The pension program is available for all volunteer firemen, EMT and search and rescue, though the members can only receive benefits from one of the three.
“It’s unique,” Gene said. “I don’t think other states have it in place, but we give $2,500 to the families of the firefighters after their death. It helps for sure.”
Like all volunteer firefighters in rural towns, the people serving do not receive payment for their time spent fighting fires. They take time away from family and jobs and pay for their own fuel in their own vehicles to respond to an emergency. For many, there isn’t enough incentive to become a firefighter. The pension program has been a huge recruitment tool for younger people and Wyoming has a generous number of volunteers.
Beyond the pension, it’s the camaraderie and sense of community that stands out among firefighters in Wyoming towns.
Crystal Magee and Maurie Erickson are the wives of two volunteers from Afton. Their husbands have been with the department for 20 years each and have competed at the annual event for the past 18. Not only are the husbands good friends, the women are, too.
“We’re proud of the brotherhood the team has,” Crystal said. “These guys have each other’s backs. This weekend shows just a fraction of how much they enjoy one another. We’re in each other’s lives.”
Maurie agreed.
We’re proud of the brotherhood the team has. These guys have each other’s backs. This weekend shows just a fraction of how much they enjoy one another. We’re in each other’s lives.
- Crystal Magee
“We have guys three generations into volunteering, and when a pager goes off and it’s 40 below or we’re in the middle of a family event, our guys drop what they are doing and head out,” she said. “They are very tight and the longevity of the time they serve is decades.”
In Afton, as with other communities, just because a fireman retires doesn’t mean he’s done.
“When the alarm goes off, the retired guys are calling, finding out what’s going on and wanting to keep posted on what’s happening. They really care,” Maurie continued.
“And it’s not just Afton,” Crystal was quick to add. “If I was traveling through any of these towns and needed something, I could call any of these guys and they would help me out. When the world goes to hell, we’re going to be okay in Wyoming!”
The wives of the Afton fire departments believe so strongly in what their husbands do that last year their matching t-shirts for the convention said, “Some people never meet their heroes – I married mine.”
Matt Lee is the WVFA incoming president. He’s not only a police officer in Riverton, but also a fifth-generation firefighter. He’s been a volunteer for 26 years, beginning long before his career as a police officer started 18 years ago.
“It’s been ingrained in me to help the community,” he said. “There’s a sense of pride in helping your neighbor out, but not only that, I have a network of friends from all different walks of life – carpenters, electricians, cops, salesmen, ranchers – and we enjoy each other. Our wives and kids are friends, and we have picnics and functions together.”
All friendships aside, the tone at the event was still one of competition as each team wanted to win and wanted it badly. As the totals were tallied at the end of the celebratory weekend, less than one second stood between the first place and second place teams. Afton City won overall with a total of 137.37, followed by Torrington with 137.51, and Newcastle in third with a time of 139.97.
Wrapping up with awards and accolades, a barbeque and beer, the friends and families of the firemen all promised next year would be even faster.