Excerpts from the MorrisHeraldnews.com:

… each year at the Grundy County Corn Festival, staff from local districts and departments take their fight to the streets, where they battle using fire hoses to get a barrel past their opponent to take home bragging rights in the annual water fight contest.

… there is a method to the madness that many who come out to watch probably don’t understand … the idea is to get the weight off the pulley that attaches the barrel to the line … once the weight is off the pulley, a steady stream can knock the barrel back over the opposing team’s head, leading to victory.

The sidewalks were packed three and four people deep with spectators and younger water visitors stood in the empty parking stalls hoping to get wet from the fireman’s advancing hoses.

The kids stood, arms stretched wide, as they waited for the water to rain down on their heads as they ran and giggled under the drops. Among the spectators are often the spouses, children and parents of the firefighters.

Just like any family, firefighters often step up for one another. Some firefighters battle for more than one district to make sure there are enough people for everyone to compete. As long as they aren’t the nozzle operator for the neighboring team, they can still compete with their own team.

There were 11 teams battling recently for the championship: three from Morris Fire Protection District, two from Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District, and one each from South Wilmington Fire Protection District, Mazon Fire Protection District, Chatsworth Fire Protection District, Braidwood Fire Protection District, Lisbon-Seward Fire Protection District and Newark Fire Protection District.

 

thanks Dan