Brigade puts heat on the competition
Harvey Volunteer Fire and Rescue Brigade heaved hoses with the best on Sunday, February 3, competing in the Bunbury Picnic Demonstration against brigades from across WA, claiming joint first.
Harvey was represented by two teams in the A and C grades with A grade winning equal first along with Bassendean.
Brigade captain Scott Britza said the event showcased the skills from firefighting’s past with carts and hoses.
“It’s the traditional way they used to fight fires,” Mr Britza said.
Competitors took part in a number of events on a track, including sprinting forward with the cart, hosing down from the top of a ladder or on the ground and could compete as individuals or in teams up to eight.
“Each event is different and requires a different amount of people,” he said.
Harvey brigade has its own track on which it trains two days a week for the summer competitive season, in addition to its volunteer duties.
Mr Britza said the brigade looked forward to the State Championship held just after the Labour Day long weekend and a trip across the Nullabor soon after for the Victorian Urban Fire Brigade Championships in Bendigo.
“We’ve gone over (East) for the last 10 years and we always have a great time,” he said.
Mr Britza said the Harvey teams had a good mix of older experienced members and younger, faster members.
“That’s one of the reasons why Harvey has been able to compete against the big strong metropolitan brigades,” he said.
In the State championships last year, Mr Britza said the Harvey team lost to Bassendean by only one point.
“This year we’re hopefully looking good to take the top spot,” he said.
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