Mullan Fire Fest a blast once again

MULLAN — The city of Mullan once again looked reminiscent of a water park last weekend when the Mullan Volunteer Fire Department hosted its 50th Mullan Fireman’s Fun Festival in the heart of town.

The two-day event featured several activities, including a parade, home-cooked breakfast, kids games, and of course, the famous firefighter competitions.

This year’s competition had several teams (made up of fire personnel and competitive civilians) battle it out in the three water-drenched, firefighting-based events.

The first event was the Make-n-Break relays where teams had to assemble a fire hose, hook it up to a source of water (in the first round, a hydrant, then a fire truck in the next), knock over targets with water, then disassemble the hose as quickly as possible. The winner was the team that completed the relay in the fastest time.

Up next was the Bucket Brigade challenge. In this event, participants handed off buckets of water to each other up a small scaffold, then dumped it out as quickly as possible. The team that filled up a large tub at the top of the scaffold in the shortest amount of time took first place. This throwback event showed how fires used to be put out before modern equipment.

To cap off the competition portion of the festival, teams dueled with fire hoses in the tug-of-war competition. Participants attempted to push a barrel, connected to a hanging steel line, over the head of their opponents with the help of fire hoses. This is easier said than done when you are also having to withstand getting hit with water from the team opposite you.

Throughout the competitions, vendor booths were available to provide spectators a cold beverage or a hot meal.

While members of Mullan Volunteer Fire Department, Shoshone County Fire District No. 1, and SCFD No. 2 had a presence at the annual event, the number of firefighter participants was noticeably lower than in recent years due to the severity of the current wildfire season.

This didn't hamper any of the fun though, as numerous civilians were more than willing to take up the challenge.

Once all the scores had been added up, it was the "Outlaws" team that took first place overall with a total time of 1:82. Runner up teams included "Joe Dietary" with 2:13, "Dinomite" with 2:68, and "Medic 1" with 2:99.

On Sunday, more than 40 local kids also had the opportunity to compete in their own firefighter competitions.

Event organizer Kjell Tresdell was pleased with this year's turnout and was thankful to everyone who contributed in putting the event on.

A preliminary count shows that the festival raised roughly $1,800.

In addition to being an event that brings attention to Mullan, all the money raised goes back to MVFD or other local organizations that held their own fundraisers, such as local schools, the Mullan library and the community foundation.

Raffle items this year were donated by the Outlaw Bar & Grill, Mullan Trail Gas Station, Axmen in Missoula, Ace, Hardware Wallace, F&H Mine Supply Inc., Deanne & Scott Johnson, and Kristie & Rick Smith.

Winners of the Firemen's raffle prizes are:

1. .380 shells- Flo
2. 9mm shells- Dave Elliott
3. .45 shells- Jay Miles
4. .223 shells- Heather S.
5. Blackberry/Huckleberry Wine- Shawn Markus
6. Blackberry Wine- Katie Murray
7. Booze Cooler- Mike Murray
8. Coat- Sharon Chaffin
9. $100.00 Gas Card- Leianne
10. $25.00 Outlaw Gift Cert.- Don Kotschevar
11. $25.00 Outlaw Gift Cert.- Deen Pugh
12. $25.00 Outlaw Gift Cert.- Melissa Driskell
13. $25.00 Outlaw Gift Cert.- Colleen
14. Prospector's Pizza Gift Cert.- Bridget Meyers
15. Head Lamp- Lindsey
16. Boots- Heather S.
17. Waterfall picture- Mike Renteria
18. Elk picture- Flo Gunderson
19. Mullan picture- Kym
20. Drill Set- Heather S.
21. Cord of wood- Jesse James
22. Cord of wood- Timber Guier