If you want to prove you're the best in the entire Upper Peninsula, there are few ways better to do it than crush the competition completely.
The Crystal Falls Fire Department dominated this year's
U.P. Firefighters' Tournament in Munising, taking first place in four of the five races to secure the overall championship.
"There are a lot of great departments here today and we're just happy to be a part of it all," says Dan Graff, the captain of the Crystal Falls department. "Winning is just a bonus."
The Crystal Falls team was led by Graff and included firefighters Tim Anderson, Kevin Schiavo, Eric Oberlin, Scot Oberlin, Steven Fabbri and Robert Fabbri.
Crystal Falls won the ladder race in 20.35 seconds, the hose-carry invent in 42.71 seconds, the speed event in 27.21 seconds and the hose exchange race in 42.21 seconds.
Earning the overall victory in the tournament, which featured fire departments from across the Upper Peninsula, earned the Crystal Falls department the Tom Perry Memorial Trophy.
In addition, the Crystal Falls firefighters tied for first in the commercial parade with West Iron County's fire department. The Crystal Falls float was a take on the television show Baywatch, though with one firefighter dressed as Pamela Anderson and another as David Hasselhoff and a third as a lifeguard overseeing two others playing nearby.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Dan Graff, Crystal Falls Fire Dept.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.