Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Cadets Win Statewide Competition

Cadets took the top prize, Best Overall Performance, in the Explorer & Junior Fire Fighter Muster & Challenge, held at the Connecticut Fire Academy on Oct. 2.

With a total time of 11 minutes, 56 seconds for the seven stations at the competition, the team won out over nine other cadet teams from around the state. Competing this year were Cadets Hayden Beaton, Katie Tsitaridis, Harley Heath, Levi Lilly, Austin Bowe, Jon Epstein (team captain), Justin Simpson and Ryan Jano. Team member Alex Bailey was unable to attend the competition.

Best times in Stretcher Relay, Bucket Brigade, Mid-night Alarm and Hose/Maze Crawl and second in Roll, Pump and Squirt and Re-packing a Hose Bed gave the team the low total time needed to win the competition, which consisted of seven stations. 

For Stretcher Relay, Hayden Beaton, Jon Epstein, Katie Tsitaridis, Austin Bowe, Ryan Jano and Justin Simpson had to move a patient in a stokes basket (a specialized stretcher for rescues) over an obstacle course simulating real-life situations. Obstacles included windows, ladder bridges and tunnels. The team had to move the basket with the safety of the patient in mind. The team had the best time at this station with a time of 2 minutes, 26 seconds. 

For Hose/Maze Crawl, Jon Epstein, Levi Lilly and Ryan Jano had their vision obstructed and were placed on a charged hose line. Firefighters are taught that by feeling the coupling they can determine the direction to follow the hose out of danger. While blindfolded, the lead team member had to determine the correct direction to follow the hose line to safety, navigating several obstacles along the way. The team had the best time at this station with a time of 2 minutes, 24 seconds.

Justin Simpson, Katie Tsitaridis, Harley Heath and Jon Epstein had to repack 200' of large diameter hose onto a simulated fire truck neatly, ready to use at the Re-packing a Hose Bed station.

For Make the Connection and Run, Katie Tsitaridis and Austin Bowe connected hoses from a one-inch booster line to a large diameter hose line using various fittings. The third team member, Ryan Jano, was at the hose nozzle. 

At Roll, Pump and Squirt, a three-member team of Katie Tsitaridis, Ryan Jano and Austin Bowe had to perform three tasks. First, Tsitaridis had to neatly roll a 50' length of hose. To complete the station, Tsitaridis helped Jano put on an Indian Pump (a portable water can that is carried on the back), and they advanced 40' and hit three targets with water from the Pump. Then they left the Indian Pump and assisted Bowe advance a charged hose line 75' and knock down a target with water from the hose line. 

Team members Justin Simpson, Jon Epstein, Harley Heath and Levi Lilly simulated responding from bed in the middle of the night. Mid-Night Alarm required the team to put on their fire gear, respond to the fire apparatus, and be seat-belted in the fire apparatus ready to respond. The team had the best time at this station with a time of 1 minute, 3 seconds. 

Justin Simpson, Harley Heath, Katie Tsitaridis, Hayden Beaton, Levi Lilly and Austin Bowe had the best time, 1 minute, 16 seconds, at Bucket Brigade by filling a barrel from a water source using a bucket relay.

Team advisors were Lt. Guy Casalino, Engineers Steve Hess and Jeff Holmes, and Firefighters Maggie Boudreau and Jason Loftus.

Cadet teams represented Avon, Coventry, Ellington, Hartford, Muddy Brook, North Madison, Portland, Simsbury, South Windsor and Thomaston. 

The competition was sponsored by the Connecticut Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America in East Hartford.  

The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company is accepting applications for cadets. Applicants must be 15 years of age. They meet weekly on Monday nights. Anyone interested may pick up an application at Simsbury's Main Station, 871 Hopmeadow Street.

This information was submitted by Kitty Vangunten of the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company.