The Montgomery Herald, Montgomery, W.Va.

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  • Jamie Fizer, front, of the Armstrong Creek Volunteer Fire Department, urges on his compatriots during the tug of war at the 18th annual Fireman’s Rodeo on Saturday in Oak Hill. Christopher Jackson

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  • ACVFD’s Ben Rucker celebrates the local department’s second consecutive victory in “The Battle of the Ax.” Loup Creek tied for second in the event, and East Bank took fourth. Christopher Jackson

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September 8, 2010

Armstrong Creek once again takes ‘Battle of the Ax’

By Andrea Lannom The Register-Herald

For the second year in a row, the Armstrong Creek Volunteer Fire Department was victorious in Saturday’s 18th annual Fireman’s Rodeo competition.

Six teams competed and Armstrong Creek won a cash prize along with a trophy, “The Battle of the Ax,” which will be displayed at the station. The trophy will be returned prior to the next competition.

Sponsored by the Oak Hill Fire Department, the event was part of the Oak Leaf Festival. The five-hour event included an obstacle course, ladder throw, tug-of-war, bucket brigade, hose relay and a water battle.

During the timed events, firefighters have to do everything from filling a 55-gallon drum full of water using five-gallon buckets passed up a ladder in the bucket brigade, to the ladder throw where firefighters race up a tower with ladder in hand and place it up against the tower so other members can climb up to ring a bell.

Second place was shared by the Oak Hill and Loop Creek departments. Third place went to Ansted, fourth went to East Bank, fifth went to Ronceverte and sixth went to Fayetteville.

Jerry Brown, vice president of the Oak Hill Fire Department, said the event stemmed from a sports festival in Oak Hill. After that, the rodeo was created.

“It’s a good event,” he said. “You get to get together and it’s one of those things where everyone knows everyone. Most of the people here have been firefighters for a long time.”

Although giving the local fire departments an opportunity to compete, the event also aims to build morale among the firefighters. James Settle, a firefighter with Loop Creek, said this was his first year in the competition, and he compared his competitors to “brothers.”

“We’re all brothers here, even though we’re competing,” he said. “You depend on these people when you’re in trouble.”

His mother, Persilla Wriston, said she was proud to get the chance to watch her son compete.

“I watched the ladder throw earlier, and I don’t know, I have just enjoyed every minute of this competition,” she said. “I love the fact that it brings the community, along with the firefighters, together.”  

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