Maine firefighters from throughout the state convene in Presque Isle
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Greater than 70 fireplace departments turned out for the 59th annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Conference that featured a Saturday parade down Most important Avenue in Presque Isle.
Round 65 completely different fireplace vans drove down the parade line with sirens and horns blaring to the excited crowds.
The Maine State Federation of Firefighters is round 74 years previous.
“We began in 1949 after the devastating wildland fires of ‘47 and that’s how we obtained going,” mentioned Ken Desmond, president of the group.
Vintage firefighting autos got here in from cities reminiscent of Washburn, York, Dover-Foxcroft and Bridgewater. Hearth departments from Van Buren to York all traveled to Aroostook County to attend the conference.
Joseph Guyotte, retired fireplace chief of Dover-Foxcroft, introduced vintage variations of vans, reminiscent of an 1850 Hunneman Handtub fireplace equipment and a 1955 American LaFrance that have been featured within the parade.
A memorial service in entrance of The Discussion board was held for 45 retired and lively firefighters who died this yr in Maine.
After the parade and the memorial service, fireplace departments from Mars Hill, Van Buren, Caribou, and Easton competed to placed on their gear and assemble three joints of a hearth hose to a hearth hydrant for the quickest time. One competitors included spraying water to hit a goal. One other occasion featured a ball suspended 18 ft within the air on a cable with two opposing groups spraying it with a hose to push it throughout a line like a tug-of-war.
