Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette A team of firefighters is starting their run in the firefighter carry race at the 69th annual Copper Country Volunteer Firefighters Association tournament on Saturday in Stanton Township.

STANTON TOWNSHIP — The 69th annual Copper Country Volunteer Firefighters Association tournament began with 50-degree temperatures and fog on Saturday, but the inclement weather did not stop the fire departments from across four counties. This year, the tournament was hosted by the Stanton Township Fire Department at North Canal Township Park.

“Lake Superior is a little angry with us,” said Kyllee Puuri, 10-year firefighter, first-responder, and soon-to-be a certified firefighter instructor. “Right now we’re getting ready to do the fireman’s carry race, so they’re going to get dressed up over there, then they’re going to come out. The first man dressed will be in the litter; they’ll get him laced up and then they’re going to haul him a certain distance, and basically get him out of the fire … But no real fire, although that definitely would warm things up a little.”

While the firefighters’ tournaments are a great way for the various departments to demonstrate their individual and team skills to the public, there are actually several reasons they occur.

The races are timed events and follow a stringent set of rules, said Quincy-Franklin Volunteer firefighter and first responder, Michael Lawrence.

“The races simulate things firefighters do in the field, in an incident or a fire a rescue, or an extraction of some sort, He said. “And then we try and make it fun. We make sure we have our equipment on properly — the boots have to be on, the coat has to be buckled, the helmet has to be on, with the strap, the same things like when we go to a fire.”

Everything has be snug and proper, otherwise, there is a major risk to the firefighter of being burnt, Lawrence explained.

“It’s just a matter of following the rules,” he said, “and during a tournament each department has different, little stringent rules to say, ‘Oh, you crossed the line early.'”

For instance, he said, when his department participated in the fireman’s carry race, the first one out of the seating area was the one who had to be placed in the litter.

“What happened was, our biggest guy got out of the circle first, instead of the smallest guy,” Lawrence said with a chuckle. “So, they have little rules like that.”

The races are kept secret until the day of the tournament, he continued, so that department members cannot practice beforehand.

“Putting on the boots, the coat and the helmet is always in every race,” he said. “A lot of guys will practice that at home or at the department.”

When the adrenaline is pumping, you forget stuff, he said. For instance there is a hood that must be worn under the helmet that protects against third-degree burns.

“But I’ve forgotten mine,” said Lawrence. “I’m ready to go in and a teammate will say ‘wait a minute; you forgot your hood.’ Then, you have to stop and go back.”

That is just one example of how the department members look out for each other.

“We look out for each other a lot — a lot,” he emphasized. “Safety is first. Then it’s the public, then it’s the property. It may sound a little crude, but why put us in danger with other people already in danger? We need to minimize that risk.”

So, while speed is one element in a timed race, it is not the only one, Lawrence pointed out, pointing out a contestant who was struggling to get his coat on.

“If he doesn’t do that right, the team gets disqualified,” said Lawrence, “so then, it doesn’t matter what kind of time you have.”

The tournaments also provide an opportunity for camaraderie that call responses and mutual aid on a scene do not necessarily permit.

“We’ve carried a lot of people out of the woods in litters, and then,” said Lawrence, “With a lot of these departments, we know each other, because it’s not just them responding to the scene; sometimes they call for mutual aid, so it’s nice for us to get to know these guys so that they recognize you, and say, ‘help me pull this hose;’ ‘help me pull this guy out.'”

During the recent structure fire in Hancock, Lawrence went to the scene as a first responder, in the event the Hancock Fire Department needed help. While on scene, Lawrence assisted two of the Hancock firefighters who were injured.

“So a lot of it is, again, the camaraderie,” he said. “A lot of these guys grew up together. Houghton, Hancock, Chassell, they all competed in sports. It’s a small community. So, that’s what these races are all about.”

So far as camaraderie is concerned, the races are not the only part of the tournaments. Saturday’s event also included a dress parade followed by a firefighters’ ball.