After 20 years, Willow hosts fire engine rally

It started with lights and sirens screaming all the way down Main Street. The annual Howell County Fire Engine Rally came back to Willow Spring Saturday morning. 

 

According to organizer and Eleven Point Rural Fire Chief Frank Vanhorn, it has been “20-something” years since the event was held in Willow, and with nine of the thirteen Howell County fire departments represented, Chief Vanhorn said he “loved the turn out.”

 

Staged in the parking lot of Booster Field, the rally pitted local firefighters against one another in friendly competitions, increasing as Vanhorn put it, “the spirit of brotherhood” among the departments. 

 

After the morning’s honor guard ceremony, Missouri State Fire Marshal Tim Bean honored two Willow Springs men – Larry Foster and John Mathieu.

 

Of Foster, Bean said, “I always liked to say he was the best boots on the ground during that event and always left things better than he found it.”

 

Bean presented him with a plaque honoring Foster’s 37 years of service. 

 

John Mathieu will have 50 years in the fire service in January, and he was recognized for his instrumental in role in bringing Eleven Point Rural Fire Department into existence, and as Bean said, “serving this community in a capacity that was needed.”

 

Trophies, medals, and bragging rights changed hands readily on Saturday as the men and women of the fire service participated in tugs-o-war, bucket brigades, and egg races. 

 

The most anticipated event of the day was a nod to the age-old rivalry between firefighters and law enforcement. Presumably motivated by the donuts placed tauntingly near the center of the rope by the firemen, members of the Howell County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol gamely gave it their best effort. Cops won the first heat of three, but fire rallied and won two in a row – taking the traveling trophy. 

 

Pumpkin Center, West Plains, Brandsville, Willow Springs, Eleven Point, Pomona, Mountain View, Pottersville and Howell County Rural Fire Departments were represented Saturday. 

 

Full results of the day’s competitions are below. 

Reverse Hose Lay

1st - Eleven Point with a time of 3:55, 2nd - Howell County Rural Fire Department (HCRFD) with a time of 4:59, 3rd - Pomona with a time of 6:13

Five Man Alarm

1st - Eleven Point with a time of 58:35, 2nd - HCRFD with a time of 1:04, 3rd - Pomona with a time of 1:29

Five Man Tug-o-War

1st – Pomona, 2nd - Eleven Point, 3rd – HCRFD

Truck Pull

1st - Pomona with a time of 14:47, 2nd - HCRFD with a time of 14:56, 3rd - Eleven Point with a time of 16:35

Bucket Brigade

1st - Pomona with a time of 2:26, 2nd - Eleven Point with a time of 2:57, 3rd - HCRFD with a time of 3:52

Egg Race with Spreaders, 1st - HCRFD with a time of 2:05, 2nd - Pomona with a time of 2:34, 3rd - Eleven Point with a time of 2:48