Press Releases / News

Martins Ferry VFD Water Battle - A Hot Way to Cool Off

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Photo Caption: Practicing for the Martins Ferry VFD Annual Water Battle competition in the four-man event is (left to right) Martins Ferry VFD Chief II Justin Smith, Taylor Fogle, Joey Jozwiak, and Justin Matz. The Annual Fireman's Water Battle is part of the Martins Ferry VFD's Betty Zane Days Festival. The Water Battle will be held on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry between the Ladder Company and Unified Bank on Saturday, immediately after the Fireman's Parade.

There have long been war games, mock disasters, and live training events of all kinds. One such training exercise held in Martins Ferry, Ohio, each year draws a crowd that is as entertained by the action as they are appreciative of the men and women volunteering their time to protect and serve their communities. For as long as most locals can remember, the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department has hosted the Annual Fireman’s Water Battle, a sporting competition designed to improve the skill and accuracy of firehose operators volunteering their service for local volunteer fire departments in the Upper Ohio Valley. This event, more than just a competition, is a testament to the strong sense of community and togetherness that our local volunteer fire departments embody.

Each year, the Annual Fireman's Water Battle sees spirited competition between VFDs, including Martins Ferry, Bridgeport, Tiltonsville, Bellaire, and others. The teams of two to four firefighters handle a 1 ¾ inch hose with a fine spray, aiming to push a metal keg suspended in the air by a cable. The atmosphere is charged with camaraderie as teams battle it out, vying for the top spot.

Martins Ferry Fire Chief II Justin Smith said, “It’s a hot way for everyone to cool off. The Water Battle is mostly for fun and entertainment. Kids and adults alike love cooling off in the overspray from the hoses. Though we do it for fun, the idea has a deeper purpose. It’s like a tug-of-war meets kick the can only with water and hoses. It is about speed and reflexes, endurance, and teamwork. We use two to four-person teams, and success usually comes to the team that works best together. Of course, there is also a bit of luck involved in winning.”

“This is one of the more fun aspects of firefighting. Being a member of the Martins Ferry VFD is an honor and a responsibility that is rooted deeply in our community. Martins Ferry and our surrounding municipalities have long felt the desire to be a part of something meaningful, something that strengthens and builds our communities. For many of us, that is being a member of a VFD. This water battle is a way for us to kick back and have a little fun with other firefighters,” Smith added.

The Water Battle is part of the fire department’s Annual Betty Zane Days Festival, held this year from Wednesday, July 31, through Saturday, August 3, in the Martins Ferry City Park. Each year, the Water Battle is sponsored by Unified Bank. The competition will be held on the street between Unified Bank and the Ladder Company on Fourth Street on Saturday, just after the Annual Fireman’s Parade. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Unified’s President, Chairman, and CEO, Scott Everson, said, “We look forward each year to this well-loved and well-attended community tradition.” “Creating better lives and futures for the people and communities we proudly serve is our vision,” Everson added.

Unified Bank is a full-service Member FDIC-insured, state-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Martins Ferry, OH and has eighteen locations that serve the Ohio counties of Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Harrison, Hocking, Jefferson and Tuscarawas and Marshall County in West Virginia. Unified Bank is the sole operating subsidiary of United Bancorp, Inc. (UBCP), a publicly-traded bank holding company, and has been serving the financial needs of the Ohio Valley since 1902 from its headquarters in Martins Ferry, Ohio