Fire departments "have a ball" during Bald Eagle Days water fight

Congratulations go to Skamokawa's Fire District 2, the pronounced winners of last Saturday's epic Waterball showdown. The team defended their fourth win, facing off against Puget Island (District 1), Wahkiakum (District 4) and Cathlamet Fire Departments during Saturday's Bald Eagle Days festivities on Cathlamet's Main Street. With plenty of spectators present, both residents and tourists had high hopes for each of the teams. While kids on the side were looking forward to getting wet from any misdirected spray, this was the first Waterball event for a few individuals including Seattle resident, Kevin Bates. "It's exciting," said Bates. "I'm here visiting a friend this weekend. Obviously, we're for Cathlamet." Despite a few slips and trips, fair play and a great audience made the game spectacular.

Even if the game itself is not easy, the rules are simple: two teams don full firefighting gear and use the powerful spray from their respective fire hoses to send a ball - or in our case, a bright orange buoy - sliding on a wire to the opposite end, marking a point. This being Cathlamet, a river-logging pike pole was used to push the buoy back to the center of the wire at the start of each round.

Teams are made up of three fire crew members, each with a specific role. Like any sport, each position has a name. The Nozzle is the team member directly controlling the hose and aiming the water. The Backup stands about three feet behind the Nozzle, providing support and direction. The Hose Tender manages the hose at the backend, ensuring a steady water supply and preventing tangles and kinks.

What are the keys to a successful game? Communication and teamwork. While the game looks like a simple match between neighboring towns, it's also both team building and fire training for the volunteers. During a firecall, any of these crew members could be relied upon to work together to put out a fire, much like the recent Nassa Point Fire that closed SR4 July 4-8.

If you missed the Waterball game, don't worry. You'll get a chance to cheer on our courageous volunteers at the next competition during the Wahkiakum County Fair in Skamokawa from Thursday, Aug. 21 through Saturday, Aug. 23. In the meantime, stay tuned as your local fire crews and law enforcement organize events near you for National Night Out during the first week of August.