Pull that hose, lift that deadweight
Firefighters compete at Tri-State Convention in Milan

Fire Fighter Cotton Jarrell with the Lee Ranch Team of Milan loosens a bolt on top of a fire hydrant to release the water at the 69th Annual Tri State Fireman's Competition and Convention on Saturday afternoon at the Milan Fire Department. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Mike Marino
Cibola County Bureau

MILAN — Fire hoses and spectators filled the competition area for the Tri-State Fireman’s Association Convention and Competition Saturday in Milan. The annual event, which is held in different locations each year, brought nearly 300 firefighters and their families from Colorado and New Mexico to the area.

In addition to being an educational classroom for the firefighters, the various competitions involving fire fighting equipment is a treat for the entire family. Inspired by films like “Backdraft” and “Ladder 49,” along with the real events of the firefighters’ first responder efforts during 9/11, it is no wonder people gather to watch them run through drills and competitive events.

The morning started with classes for the visiting and the local firefighters, who then broke for lunch before the start of the competition at 1 p.m. The sidelines were filled to capacity with the competitors’ families and friends cheering them on. This year there were 15 teams competing, according to Firefighter Eddie Miles.

“It’s like a family reunion for us. We're real close and meet each other every year,” Miles said. Most of the teams involved are volunteer fire departments, except for the Gallup and Grants teams, although Grants does have some volunteers in addition to paid personnel.

Although the competitions are in the spirit of fun, there are safety considerations to be taken into account. If a team wants to enter the six-man competition, they have to man the field with five or six members but no less than that. “The competition also acts as a substitute training session to teach them how to work and to communicate as a team,” Miles said.

Most of the teams were seasoned veterans of the annual event, but this year also saw two new teams, Acoma and Cubero, compete for the first time. The Cubero team was the youngest and least experienced; this was their first competition and the event acted as a training session for the group. Acoma did not get to participate this year because they failed to have enough team members to put on the field. Although Gallup participates every year, they sent in a fresh roster of members for their team.

When the games ended, everyone got ready for the banquet to close for the day, but there is still more to do for many of them. After the competitions are over, many of the teams will be heading to Socorro for more training at the State of New Mexico Fire Academy. All agree it was a great convention, and Milan has been host to it many times in the past.

The competition changes location each year and next year they are looking forward to heading north, as it will be held near Cortez, Colo., and hosted by the Lewis Arriola Fire Department.