Sunday, July 26, 2009


Jewett City takes top fire prize at muster
Town wins Taftville trophy for 2nd year

By JAMES MOSHER
Norwich Bulletin

If enthusiasm were water, the Jewett City Fire Department could have put out a string of blazes Saturday.Cheering on themselves as well as offering applause for their opponents, Jewett City repeated as winners of the Taftville Volunteer Fire Department muster for the second straight year. Jewett City finished with 38 overall points while Moosup, which was third last year, came in second with 34. Gales Ferry, competing for the first time, was third with 32.“We’re one big family,” Jewett City rescue Lt. Jim LePage said. “It’s about being fast and having good teamwork.”The family dynamic cut the other way in the form of a sibling rivalry between Jewett City’s LePage and Voluntown Capt. Emile LePage Jr. The Jewett City/Voluntown rivalry was most conspicuous during the five-event competition in which six teams participated.“We just want to beat Jewett City,” Voluntown firefighter Rob Dillon said smiling. “I don’t care if we finish fifth as long as they’re sixth.”Dillon didn’t quite get his wish. Voluntown ended up fourth overall with 22 points. Voluntown did manage to defeat Jewett City in the bucket brigade, finishing first while Jewett City was second. Yet Jewett City outdid its archrival in every other event.Gales Ferry made a strong showing in its initial Taftville muster.“We didn’t practice at all for this,” Lt. Jason Powers said after a second-place finish in the 21⁄2 hose lay. “We’re getting some great exercise and I’m really happy with how we’re doing.”Gales Ferry would have been even stronger had not firefighter Brett Eagan missed the event to care for what teammates said was a “diabetic dog.”Moosup will host a muster Sept. 12. They were feeling confident while working to get Saturday’s second-place trophy. Assistant Chief Jeff Bellavance contrasted the calm of his squad with boisterous Jewett City.“We’re the cool ones,” Bellavance said with a grin. “We can beat them.”The muster was an opportunity to boost morale within departments and cooperation among departments, said Bill Hadam, chairman of Taftville’s muster. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the harsh realities of firefighting in a relaxed atmosphere.“The job is inherently dangerous,” Hadam said. While watching several firefighters get hit in the head during the bucket brigade, he said “Now I remember why we wear helmets.”


No comments: