Ozark comes out on top in Firefighter Competition

The Enterprise Fire Department lost the championship it won last year to the Ozark Fire Department in Saturday’s Firefighter Competition at Henderson Park.

The contest,  judged on a points system for six events, included the Bucket Brigade, the Barrel Push, the Running Hose, the Dry Hose, the Busted Hose and the 1-Into-2. The EFD came in second, the Battens Volunteer Fire Department placed third and Goodman VFD took the fourth spot.

“Well, we can’t win it every time,“ said Enterprise Fire Chief Byron Herring. “It will just make us work harder next year.“

Herring said more than 150 people came out to watch the event, which kicks off the EFD’s Fire Safety Month. The local fire department is working with the National Fire Protection Association to get the word out about fire safety and they will be sending Enterprise school children home with brochures and information on the importance of smoke detectors and prevention of home fires. Herring said the EFD will be giving away some smoke detectors and installing them for households that need them.

The department is also planning to set up its Fire Safety House at the Boll Weevil Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 25.

The converted travel trailer will be open at the event to show children and their parents a 15-minute presentation on how to react to home fires and how to open and unlock doors and windows if a fire breaks out.

“It’s aimed at kids, but anyone can come and watch,“ said Herring. “Everyone needs to know how to get out of the house if there’s a fire and how to be able to see when there’s a lot of smoke around. It’s not like it is in the movies.“