SPECIAL CELEBRATION
Area fire departments join with residents in saluting Jonesville Volunteer Fire Department’s longevity
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. >> The deep bellow of the fire trucks’ emergency horns seemed a bit less frantic Saturday as the line of vehicles slowly made their way up Vischer Ferry Road.
The sight of more than two dozen emergency fire trucks moving slowly behind department members from the Capital Region marching in Class A dress uniforms was a sign of respect for the volunteers of the Jonesville Fire Department’s 100-year anniversary.
With a full sun overhead and a slight cooling breeze, Saturday was one of the first days this spring where people felt they could relax a little and step away from yard work and household chores to enjoy the day.
Residents attending the event arrived early, found a spot along the parade route and plopped down their blankets and fold up chairs shortly before the noon kickoff.
The parade of fire vehicles, old and new, marching department members, and the Albany Pipe Band was the start of the Jonesville Fire Department’s 100th-anniversary celebration on the Clifton Commons.
This was a day for the public to enjoy themselves while showing their thanks to the men and women who volunteer to fight fires in Jonesville as well as all the other departments taking part in the celebration.
Once the parade had reached its end, it was time for the little ones to hit the amusement rides and food vendors and take a close-up look at the antique fire trucks. Most of the trucks were accessible and got their bells rung continuously for much of the afternoon. One antique fire truck, however, was for viewing only.
The chrome plated 1871 Button Steamer owned by the Stillwater Fire Department was the oldest, antique truck in the parade. Like a prized art piece, it traversed the route on its own trailer; its wheels never touching the ground. When the parade ended department members hurried to put its yellow tarp on.
“It’s the pride and joy of our department,” said First Assistant Chief Jeff Mahar. “The City of Troy owned it when it was new and we got it from them in 1876. The last time it actually pumped was 1968. We had a full restoration in 2005. It doesn’t pump now because of one of the pistons. We could have got it in working order but we were told we’d lose the shiny look so we said no thanks.”
For the other firefighters, it was time for some good-natured competition between the departments.
The first of four competitions was the bucket brigade, two teams of five firefighters each rushing 20 yards from a plastic pool of water with buckets in hand to see which department could fill a 30-gallon container first.
“Full buckets, full buckets,” called out one firefighter from the sidelines to his department members as they rushed past.
There were slips and falls, spilled water, and plenty of laughs.
The next competition was to see which team of five could put on their firefighting gear the quickest. Compared to the bucket brigade and what was to come, this event was mild.
“This is a donning-type drill that we do a lot in training,” said Jonesville Fire Department Chief P. J. Champagne. “We’ll see who puts their turnout gear on the quickest.”
That competition was followed by a three-legged race between the departments. After one of the two-man teams took a fall that planted both their faces straight into the wet sod one member’s wife was heard giving her husband advice to fall properly if his team started to teeter.
“Hands out, protect the jewels,” she said.
As he watched the competition and laughed along with everyone else P.J. Champagne, the Jonesville Volunteer Fire Department Chief, assessed the day.
“It was good to see all our fellow firefighters come out. We’re very appreciative of them making the effort to join us in our celebration,” he said. “Seeing all the old fire trucks is good nostalgia too, it makes you think of all those who’ve done this before you. When you’re a firefighter, everyone helps everyone else.”
The final competition was a tug of war challenge pitting, in most cases, the youngest, heaviest, and most muscular members of each department against one another.
Jonesville Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Bill Dell’Anno was appreciative of the weather, the other departments’ rollover coverage, and the residents who came out and applauded the volunteers as they marched or rode by in the parade.
“This day has been everything we hoped,” he said. “It’s good to see all the people along the sides of the road as we marched past. This community is always grateful to see us and as volunteers, we appreciate that.”