Firefighters celebrate 100th year with a classic muster

NORTH CANAAN — So what if it rained Sunday, May 15? People were going to get wet anyway. It did nothing to dampen the fun (or lessen the crowd) at the firemen’s muster on Lawrence Field, part of the Canaan Fire Company’s yearlong 100th anniversary celebration.Also held over the weekend was an open house at the firehouse, on Saturday. The last muster held in North Canaan was in 1994. The competition was fierce but friendly on Sunday, and the day ended with challenges to rematches, and plans to call a muster every year.Musters are traditional competitions that showcase strength, speed and the skills needed to fight fires and handle other emergencies. The Canaan Fire Company muster pitted five-person teams against each other. Each used a rope to haul about 20 tons of fire engine (and water) a short distance in a short time. There was a bucket brigade and tests of hose-handling skills — including using water pressure to slide a beer keg along a raised line — and a Midnight Alarm, which begins with team members racing into their protective turnout gear.The team that earned the most points — and the first-place trophy — was the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department. Second place was awarded to the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department, and third went to the Bethany Fire Department.In individual events, the winners were:Midnight Alarm: Bethany Fire DepartmentTruck Pull: Cornwall Volunteer Fire DepartmentFast Draft: Norfolk Volunteer Fire DepartmentBucket Brigade: Falls Village Volunteer Fire DepartmentBarrel Slide: Sharon Volunteer Fire DepartmentMotorized Truck Fast Draft: Norfolk Volunteer Fire DepartmentThe Canaan Fire Company and New Marlborough Fire Department also competed.