During the Fall, several members of the Junior Firefighter Program started to prepare for the 2004 Junior Firefighter Challenge, and to defend their 2003 championship. Practices were held on Sunday afternoons at the Weatogue drill grounds. This required a considerable commitment from the participants, Juniors and Regular members alike, as these drills were held in addition to the regularly scheduled drills that the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company holds every Monday night.

After many practices, the team's skills had sharpened and the squads for the individual events started to take shape. One last practice was held the afternoon before the 2004 competition to work-out any remaining kinks and questions, and to finalize the squads and individual positions.

The burn building was the perfect setting to practice for the Hose Maze Crawl. A squad of three Juniors would be required to navigate a maze while blindfolded, using the hose line as their guide. All three would have to physically stay in contact with both the hose, and each other at all times to avoid a penalty.

To practice for the other events, the grounds of the training complex also served nicely. Another event would be the Midnight Alarm which depicts how firefighters asleep at a station can be suddenly waken by an alarm and required to quickly dress and jump on the apparatus to answer a call.

This event starts with the participants springing from their cots and jumping into their boots. They then dash to where their coats and helmets are laying and don them. Finally, everyone races to the apparatus and time stops when all are seated with their seatbelts properly fastened.

Ready, set, GO!			Maggie Boudreau, Chris Mathiason, Mindy Mathiason & Erin Komidar (obscured) dash for their turnout gear.			Final destination: the apparatus.

In the Roll, Pump and Squirt, three separate skills are combined into one event. A single member from a squad of three first has to neatly roll a 50' length of hose. They then rush to fill and cap an Indian Can and help another member don it, who then advances to a line and knocks several cups off a table using the hand pump. The Indian Can is then removed and both members then go assist the third member in dragging a charged hose line to a box from which the nozzle man must knock a cone from a table with the stream.

The Stretcher Relay required a squad of six to transport a litter containing a weighted dummy over several obstacles without allowing the basket to unintentionally touch the ground. Obstacles included traversing a ladder, navigating over two barriers and getting through a tube. The team can not move forward until all members have cleared an obstacle and everyone is in physical contact with the basket.

Traversing the first obstacle.			Navigating the barrier.			Transferring the basket.

Advancing the basket through the tube.

Another event which also has practical applications is the Hose Bed Repack. A squad of four would be timed on how quickly they could repack 200' of 5" soft sleeve hose in addition to a 200' crosslay.

The sixth event, the Bucket Brigade, requires six participants and is reminiscent of the days before apparatus and pumps, when fighting fires consisted of many people passing buckets of water between them to throw on a fire. Contestants are allowed to shuttle buckets individually, or pass them down a line, with the goal being to partially fill a 55 gallon drum in as short a time as possible.

For practice, Tanker 9's 3,500 gallon drop tank was used to provide the water source and the Junior's went to work filling the drum. Getting wet isn't the most fun thing to do on a cool October afternoon.

Mindy Mathiason, Lisa Mathiason & Drew Swiniarski check on dinner.		Past & present Challenge team members, & friends enjoy the evening.

The Juniors and their advisor's worked hard, late into the afternoon, trying to perfect each evolution. After the drill grounds had been cleaned-up, it was time to relax a bit. Lead advisor Captain Len Mathiason invited the Junior Challenge team, his fellow advisors and some friends, back to his house for a cook-out that evening. Not only was it the perfect opportunity to unwind, but also a good distraction from the competition that followed the next morning.

None the less, one final team meeting was held that evening. Captain Mathiason told the team that they had worked very hard and it showed, and they should be proud of themselves, as he was very proud of them. He told the team that the reality was, they were going to compete against several other well-trained teams, and statistically, they were bound not to win sooner or later. Captain Mathiason stressed that no matter if they won or not, that the team approach the competition with sportsmanship, modesty and class, and that the most important result from this experience, was that they were all better firefighters for having accepted the challenge.

Lead Advisor Captain Len Mathiason addresses the team.			The cake said it all: GOOD LUCK!			Team Co-Captains Mindy Mathiason & Erin Komidar cut the cake as team mates Kayla Smith & Christina Adamcyzk watch.

By 2004, the Junior Firefighter Challenge had undergone several changes over the four years of it's life, such as sponsors, locations and events. Officially called the Explorer & Junior Fire/EMS Muster & Challenge, the event was sponsored by the Connecticut Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America and held at the Connecticut Fire Academy training grounds in Windsor Locks, Connecticut on October 17, 2004.

The Junior Fire Challenge was a competition open to junior and explorer fire and EMS programs from around the state. The Challenge consisted of six timed events, some of which tested skills in firefighting such as properly following a hose line through a series of obstacles, and some of which that were more fun than a test of essential skills, such as the Bucket Brigade Event. In all events, teamwork would naturally be essential.

Eighteen teams from around the state competed against each other in the six individual events, with awards given to the team in each event who completed the evolution in the fastest elapsed time. Time penalties could be given for infractions. The team who turned in the fastest combined time for all six events would be awarded a Best All-Around award for their accomplishment.

The Junior Challenge team met at Tariffville Station early in the morning and carpooled together over to the Fire Academy. After setting-up base camp for the day, the Juniors neatly laid-out their gear and were led through a series of warm-ups and stretches by two of their team mates. Flattered, the Juniors watched as several other teams subsequently followed Simsbury's leads in a quick manner. One final issue of business before the day got started was to take a group photograph of the Junior Challenge team.

The judges called for a representative from each program to come to the official's table for a meeting. Afterwards, Lead Advisor Captain Len Mathiason returned to the team to inform them of the rules and day's schedule. The team received their final instructions, a bit of a pep talk, and were wished good luck by many parents, friends and fellow Fire Company members. Surprisingly the team showed no outward signs of nervousness, and definitely no swagger. There was just a quiet and modest confidence among the team as they were eager to go to work.

The first event for Simsbury was the Stretcher Relay which required the  six person squad to transport a Stokes basket containing a weighted dummy through a  course and over several obstacles without allowing the basket to unintentionally touch the ground. The squad could only move forward once all members had cleared each obstacle and reestablished physical contact with the basket.

The Stretcher Relay squad gets their bearings prior to starting the evolution.			Moving through the window obstacle.			Preparing to lift the basket as the final squad member clears the tube.

The course was almost exactly as they had come to know it in practice, except for at the last minute, the ladder traverse obstacle was eliminated. The squad would still have to navigate through a simulated window, then a tube, and finally over a barrier before hustling to the finish line. Kellan Boudreau led the squad and they finished with a very good time having acquired no penalties.

The second competition for Simsbury was the Hose Maze Crawl which consisted of following a hose line through the Fire Academy's maze trailer. All three members of the squad had to stay in physical contact with not only each other, but also with the hose line at all times or they would be penalized.

Andrew Albert led the squad quickly through the maze. At one point there was difficulty negotiating an obstacle. Even so, the team turned in an excellent time which kept them in the hunt for another championship.
 

	With their boots on, it's time for helmets and coats.		Arms go up signaling seatbelts are fastened.

The next event which the team tackled was the Midnight Alarm. A bit of a curve was thrown at all the teams as they were not allowed to neatly lay out their turnout gear as in years passed. Instead, it was piled in a heap forcing contestants to sort through it before donning. Once again, the team experienced a small hiccup when a helmet strap had become tangled in the eye shield affixed  to one of the helmets, but once again the team fought through it to turn in a competitive time.

Paul Alleva makes quick work of the cups with the Indian Can.

The fourth event was the Roll, Pump and Squirt. Addison Brown rolled the hose quickly and then went to assist Paul Alleva with the Indian Can. Once the can was filled, Paul advanced to the mark and knocked the cups off in quick succession. Both then went to man the hose line with Chris Mathiason who was on the nozzle. Just as in practice, the team advanced the line smoothly to the box and knocked the cone over without hesitation.

	Just as in practice, the stream is immediately put on the target.

Securing the cap to the Indian Can seemed to be problematic to a few teams that day. It may have cost Simsbury a few seconds, but their overall effort in the evolution earned them a time almost as good as any.

The Juniors fifth event would be the Bucket Brigade. Competitors generally don't wear their coats for this event even though it has a tendency to get you wet. By then, morning had given way to the afternoon, and fortunately for the squad, it had warmed up some from the chilly morning. Once again, a very competitive time was registered by Simsbury for the event.

There was now only one event left to compete in and the stage was set for a dramatic conclusion. Simsbury found themselves in a difficult, but not impossible position. As best as they could figure, it would appear that their team had not won any of the five individual events so far, but their times had been near the top in all of them. Still, it appeared that they were currently sitting in second place for Best All-Around, about a half-minute behind the leaders.

The team in the lead has completed all their events, and had registered a very good time in the Hose Bed Repack event which was also the last event for Simsbury. The time deficit would be a hard one to overcome. It would take an outstanding performance in this event to repeat as champions once again. In essence, the 2004 Challenge was the Junior's to win, or to loose.

The seriousness of the moment is evident.

The pressure of the moment and the burden of the task were immense and weighed heavily. Junior's, advisor's, fellow firefighter's, parent's and friend's nerves were all on end. Captain Len Mathiason called the four Juniors who would compete over to him. Everyone seemed to gather round.

A long discussion then ensued between the Juniors and their advisors. The Juniors had done this sort task many times in practice, and probably even more times at drill. Captain Mathiason reminded them to pack the hose neatly as neatness counted, and to do everything safely. Everyone in proximity seemed to wishing the squad good luck.

	Four Juniors go to work to pack hose, and hopefully win a championship.

Supporters were standing all along the edges of the Hose Bed Repack station. Andrew Albert, Kellan Boudreau, Maggie Boudreau and Heather Starr walked to the starting line under a hail of cheers. Momentarily it quieted for the start of the event, but that soon gave way to shouts and applause as the official yelled "GO!"

Kellan Boudreau and Heather Starr immediately headed for the hose bed as Andrew Albert and Maggie Boudreau grabbed sections of the hose and advanced them closer to the apparatus. The team worked in flawless unison in repacking the supply line. Minutes seemed to turn into an eternity.

The squad sprints for the finish line as every second counts.

The crowd was urging the Juniors on throughout the evolution. As the end of the hose was laid in the bed, the cheers grew even louder. Kellan Boudreau and Heather Starr were careful in climbing down from the hose bed. Dislodging some hose, a slip, a stumble, or an unsafe maneuver would surely bring a penalty and end any chance of staying in the hunt for the championship.

	The squad gets congratulated on a job very well done.

As the two Junior's feet touched the ground from the climb down, all four broke for the finish line as a team, crossing the finish line amid cheers and into outstretched arms.

The judges came over to talk to the four Juniors and asked, what was most important in completing this task? One of the squad answered that the task was completed safely. The judge said yes and then asked, what else was important. Someone answered that the task was completed neatly. The judge asked if it had been completed neatly and the Juniors answered yes. The judge replied, I think so too; no penalties. Everyone broke into applause for one final job well-done.

The squad has completed to Hose Bed Repack station with an astounding time. Seemingly, the time was good enough to give them a first place finish in the event. The question on everyone's mind though, was their time fast enough to give the team the championship? As best as anyone could figure, it was too close to call. All that anyone could do now was wait and see.

Captain Len Mathiason tells the team to be proud of their performance, and to be gracious no matter what the outcome.

Once again, the team was called together for a meeting. Captain Len Mathiason congratulated the team on a job well done as they had put in excellent performances in each of the six events. He stressed to the team to be good sportsmen and gracious competitors whether then won or lost. He reminded them once again that they what was most important was that had become better firefighters because of this experience.

All of the teams were called to the judge's table for the awards ceremony. Every team who participated in the 2004 Challenge was awarded a trophy for such. The individual event trophies were given out next and as expected, Simsbury did not win any of the first five events.

	Maggie Boudreau, Heather Starr, Kellan Boudreau & Andrew Albert (obscured) accept the trophy for 1st place in Hose Bed Repacking.

When the award for the Hose Bed Repacking event was presented, the judge named Simsbury as the winner of the event. All four members who participated in the event went and accepted the trophy.

With the individual event awards presented, all the competitors on the drill ground became anxious to hear who had won the 2004 Junior Challenge. The judge announced that they were still tallying the times for the best all-around award, and would be a few more minutes before they would announce it. Everyone was eager to hear the announcement.

Several long minutes went by and the anxiety in the crowd was evident. The judge addressed the crowd once more and told everyone that their patience was appreciated. The judge announced that there was a four second difference separating the first and second place teams, and because of such a close margin, they wanted to double check their calculations. This only made the crowd stir with more anticipation and anxiety.

After several more long minutes, the judge stepped forward and raised the microphone and said, the winner of the 2004 Explorer & Junior Fire/EMS Muster & Challenge is . . .

SIMSBURY!

Incredibly, the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company's Junior Firefighter Program, under the guidance of Captain Leonard Mathiason, who was assisted by so many others, had managed to win their fourth championship in as many years. By the official time card, Simsbury had finished eight seconds ahead of the second place team. Congratulations to everyone on all their hard work and for winning Best All-Around.

Hose Bed Repacking Event Winners (L to R) Kellan Boudreau, Heather Starr, Maggie Boudreau & Andrew Albert			The 2004 Explorer & Junior Fire/EMS Muster & Challenge Championship Team