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Come Visit - Across from City Hall
The 116th Annual Volunteer Firefighters Tournament came to an end Saturday, July 24th, here in Munising. The final day of the three day tournament featured a commercial parade and the closing ceremony where winners were announced and trophies were awarded. This year third place went to Skandia-West Branch, second place was awarded to West Iron County, and Crystal Falls took first place overall. The tournament featured numerous events which were scored and judged on several factors…even crowd reaction was taken into consideration. Saturdays commercial parade featured not only firetrucks and firefighting apparatus. In fact, the firefighters built unique and elaborate floats based on this years theme: The Battle by the Bay. More than 15 departments and over 1,200 volunteer firemen and women from around the Upper Peninsula participated in the numerous competitions and events. However, Munising’s Department was unable to compete simply because they were hosting the tournament, as is tradition. The events proceeds will benefit the participating fire departments where it will be utilized for such things as lifesaving equipment and training. Congratulations to all the Fire Departments on a very successful and exciting tournament, and thank you to all those brave volunteers from across the Upper Peninsula.
The Crystal Falls Fire Department team with their first place trophy.
West Iron County's Fire Department took second place this year.
Champion/Humboldts fantastic recreation of the East Channel Lighthouse on Grand Island.
Replica of a fire boat which sank in the 1800's also built by the Champion/Humboldt team.
The Crystal Falls team created a very impressive "Baywatch" float, relevant to this years Battle by the Bay theme.
The Skandia-West Branch fire department showed off their 1963 fire truck which served them for over 20 years.
Most teams chose float ideas that would portray Munisings landmarks and keep with the Battle by the Bay theme. Here West Iron County has recreated Miners Castle featuring a burning cabin sitting on top.
- The USS Alfred, also built by the West Iron County Fire Department, followed closely behind Miners Castle attempting to extinguish the blazing cabin.
- Skandia’s team also built a train with a recreation of the Beach Inn building which burned down in 1951.
The commercial parade featured many other impressive and unique ideas including a pirate ship built by the Caspian Gaastra team and several very old fire trucks.
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