FIRST ANNUAL FALLS FIRE SHOWDOWN A SUCCESS!
On Friday, June 3rd, the City of Cuyahoga Falls and the Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation held the first annual Falls Fire Showdown event at the Riverfront Pavilion. Sponsored by Western Reserve Hospital, this unique event pitted local fire departments against one another in a firefighter relay-course event.
The Fire Showdown event kicked off at 6pm. Teams in full firefighting gear ran up flights of stairs with hose bundles, dragged a charged hoseline, and carried a 200-lb mannequin, just to name a few of the components. Among the area departments that competed were Stow, Cleveland, Munroe Falls, Macedonia, and two teams each from Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. Cuyahoga Falls Team #2 came out on top, posting an incredible time of 1 minute 52 seconds.
Teams were signaled to start their race by the ringing of an old bell that was used on one of Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department’s historic Pirsch Fire Engines dating back to 1959. After the truck was removed from service in the 1970’s, the bell was given to former Cuyahoga Falls Fire Chief Elmer Brown as a retirement gift in 1981. Following Chief Brown’s passing, the family returned the bell to the Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society, who has since returned it to the CFFD.
Following the Fire Showdown event, the Cleveland Breakfast Club played everyone’s favorite 80’s music on the amphitheater stage. Throughout the evening, there were food trucks, several area beer vendors, and firefighting activities for the kids.
The Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation had a booth set up with the City’s Fire Bell on display, along with renderings of the proposed memorial. The Memorial Foundation was honored to be selected to receive the proceeds for the evening and are thankful to the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Western Reserve Hospital, and everyone who came out to watch the entertainment and enjoy a beautiful summer evening with us.
In the end over $11,300 was raised for our project! Planning is already underway for next year’s event.
