Bill Barton and David Hazel participate in the broken hose event. (Photos by Steve Into)
Harvard residents know their firefighters are the best. But now they have the title to prove it.
Last Sunday, Harvard firefighters joined firefighters from Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Holden, Princeton, Sterling, and West Boylston to compete in the Wachusett Muster League’s 82nd annual Firefighters’ Muster. And for the first time in the competition’s 82 years, Harvard won the title.
“This was a big deal. It was the first time ever,” said Harvard Fire Chief Bob Mignard.
In an interview with the Press, Mignard said that the competition included four events: the tower race, the broken hose race, the bed race, and the pump race. There are two additional races—the old-timers’ race and the women’s race—but the first four events are the ones that “count.”
Wally Shaw and Tyler Swearingen hustle in the bed race.
Each team wins points based on how they place in each of the races. While Harvard only won first place in one of the events, the team’s overall score by the end of the competition was so good that they won the overall event.
“We were consistently good,” said Mignard.
Mignard explained that the muster events pose a unique challenge to firefighters.
“You have to run right on the edge,” he said. “When you’re screwing a hose together, you need to be making the last thread by the time the water gets to you, and if you don’t have that thing fully coupled, you’re gonna get soaked.”
“It’s all about speed,” he added. “When it works, it’s a beautiful thing. When it doesn’t, it’s a hilarious train wreck.”
The event, which traditionally takes place on Father’s Day each year, is a wonderful way for firefighters to celebrate as a team and show off their skills. Mignard said that many family members came to enjoy the festivities and support the squad.
But for Mignard, the best part of the day was when his teammates realized they had won the overall competition.
Harvard firefighters raise their hands in victory as they drive back into town after winning the muster.
“The moment for me was looking at my guys when the realization hit them that they were going to take it,” he said. “We were standing in front of the judges’ trailer and figured it out mathematically that we couldn’t lose. That was the high point.”
Whenever Harvard teams win a noteworthy game, engines from the Fire Department have traditionally escorted the victors home, with lights flashing and sirens wailing. Sunday’s victory was no exception.
“We’re always escorting other people back from their wins,” said Mignard. “This time we escorted ourselves.”The firefighters on Harvard’s winning muster team were Oona Aldrich, Bill Barton, Deb Barton, Frank DeBettencourt, Greg Harrod, Dave Hazel, Valerie Into, Sean Murphy, Chuck Nigzus, Colleen Nigzus, Scot Nogler, Jamie Perwak, Lisa Shaw, Mark Shaw, Tony Shaw, Wally Shaw, and Tyler Swearingen. The Old Timers team members were Greg Harrod, Warren Harrod (oldest member), Ken Harrod, Bob Mignard, Scot Nogler, and Tony Shaw.
