Firemen’s competition open to the public

The fifth annual Monmouth County Firefighters Competition will be held Oct. 6 at the Adelphia Fire Co. fields off Route 524 (Elton-Adelphia Road) in Howell, beginning at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend and cheer on their local teams.

At 8 a.m., members of the competing teams will be treated to a breakfast donated by Foodarama Supermarkets, Howell, and Sam’s Club, Freehold Township, before the competition begins at 9 a.m. The event is sponsored in part by the New Jersey-American Water Co.

Teams will compete in "firematic" events that simulate actual situations that may arise on a fire scene. Events include the "Hose Laying," where the trucks travel down a course while the firefighters hook the hose up to a tanker and put out a simulated house fire.

"Hose and Ladder" requires the team to hook up to the truck and scurry up a roof ladder held by comrades and extinguish the simulated house fire. "Busted Hose" simulates how a team of firefighters changes a leaking section of hose while water is actually flowing, and the "Water Polo" event demonstrates hose-handling abilities.

There will also be old-fashioned bucket brigades conducted for the women and children. Afterward, the teams and their families will be treated to entertainment and an awards ceremony.

Fire companies scheduled to compete include Adelphia, Ramtown and Freewood Acres, all from Howell; Gordons Corner and Manalapan Fire Co. No. 1, both from Manalapan; Englishtown Fire Department; Freehold Borough Fire Department; the East Freehold Fire Co. and Independent Fire Co. No. 1, both from Freehold Township; Marlboro Fire Co.; Shrewsbury; Little Silver; Long Branch; Brevent Park and Leonardo Fire Co., Middletown; and the Oceanic Fire Company, Rumson.

For more information, call Linda Hahn at (732) 792-1187, e-mail Lawnquilt@aol. com; or Chris Winkleman, (732) 577-0934, or [email protected].