Red Onion team hosts firematic competition August 6

Since about 1967, the Spencerport Fire Department has had a competition team called the Red Onions. The team is made up of active Spencerport firefighters. During the summer, they compete against about 60 other fire departments from across the New York state. Each area of the state has their own local competitions. In the western New York area, Spencerport competes against other fire departments from Irondequoit, Dansville, Henrietta, Amherst and Greece.

The team competes on a local level in Spencerport on Saturday, August 6 at 1 p.m. at the end of West Avenue in the village of Spencerport. There are eight different events, five using trucks, and three foot races. There is an admission fee of $2 per person. Children under 12 are admitted free. Bring a blanket or a chair for seating. There will be food and beverages available from Barton's Parkside Hots.

This competition gives participants a chance to use teamwork and stay physically fit, which is important in everyday firematic activities. They also work with and train on firematic equipment. In Spencerport, the members train on drafting water from a portable water supply at least twice a week, this keeps the firefighters familiar with using alternate water sources when hydrants are not available. These competitions have proven to be a good tool for recruitment and retention.

This year's state competition will be in Hempstead on Long Island. There will be between 50-55 teams competing.

For information visit the website at www.redonionsracing.com or the statewide web site www.fdracing.com