VERSAILLES – Firefighters from throughout the region, along with some rescue workers and retirees, gathered in Versailles over the weekend for the annual Central-Western Firemen’s Association Conference.
Versailles hosted firefighters from Bradford, Vandalia, Union City, Pleasant Hill, Osgood, Christiansburg, Casstown, Englewood, Liberty Township, Ludlow Falls and more during the conference held Friday and Saturday, with most of the events taking place at Heritage Park.
Events kicked off with a queen contest held at Versailles School Friday evening, followed by Friday’s firefighter competitions in gear donning, hose line and the bucket brigade.
Saturday events included the annual business meeting before the firefighters got down to the fun again. Competitions consisted of strong arm, cart race, water ball and the tug of war.
The highlight of the day was the water ball tournament, with the Bradford 2 team going undefeated all day until facing Versailles retirees from the loser’s bracket. The Bradford team finally ended up on top after a final showdown between the top two.
Central-Western Firemen’s Association was established in 1931, and its membership includes fire and emergency service organizations from Central and Western Ohio and Eastern Indiana.
Current members are Ansonia Volunteer Fire Department, Arcanum Fire Department, Arcanum Fire Ladies Auxiliary, Bradford Fire & Rescue Services Inc., Brookville Fire Department, Casstown Community Volunteer Fire Department, Celina Fire Department, Chester Township Volunteer Fire Department, Christiansburg Fire Department, Coldwater Fire Department, Covington Fire & Rescue Inc., Covington Spit-Fyres, Englewood Fire Department, Farmersville Fire Association, Fletcher Volunteer Fire Department, Franklin Township Fire Department, City of Franklin Division of Fire, Fort Loramie Fire Department, Gettysburg Rural Fire Department, Greenville City Fire Department, Greenville Township Fire Department, Houston Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Jefferson Township Fire Department, Johnson-St. Paris Joint Fire District, Kettering Fire Department, Kettlerville-Van Buren Twp. Fire Department, Laura Fire Department, Lewisburg Emergency Unit, Lewisburg Fire Department, Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department, Lockington Fire Department, Ludlow Falls Volunteer Fire Department, Mechanicsburg Fire Department, Minster-Jackson Twp. Fire Department, Montezuma Fire Department, New Bremen German Twp Fire Department, New Madison Volunteer Fire Department, Osgood Volunteer Fire Department, Phillipsburg Fire Department, Piqua Fire Department, Pitsburg Fire Department, Pitsburg FD Women’s Auxiliary, Pleasant Hill-Newton Twp. Fire Department, Rockford Community Fire Co. Inc., Spencerville Ambulance Service, Spirit Medical Transport, St. Henry Volunteer Fire Department, Tipp City Fire Department, Tri-Village Rescue Services Inc., Union City Ohio Fire & Rescue, Vandalia Fire Division, Verona Fire Dolls, Versailles EMS and Versailles Fire Department.
