NUCOR Steel and the Auburn Rotary Club, hosted Party in the Park at Emerson Park in Auburn for the first time this year. On hand were members of Cayuga County volunteer fire departments showcasing their talents with a little friendly competition.

“Today we’re playing a game called push ball. It’s a ball on a rope or a cable,” Eldridge Fire Department volunteer firefighter Brian Vivenzio said. “The teams get it to one end or another and there’s a stopper on it, whoever hits the stopper first wins the match. It’s best two out of three. It’s just fun and exciting. A lot of people watching today which is exciting to see.” 

Vivenzio says the games also help with their skills when it comes to a real-life situation.

“Just pulling those hose itself is huge,” Vivenzio said. “Whether it’s over pavement or grass or gravel, anything like that will help you improve your skills for sure.”  

They say having the firefighter games not only helps with skills, but recruitment.

“Recruitment is big in volunteer fire departments because they’re getting low numbers,” Moravia Volunteer Fire Department president Michael Copley said. “So we decided to participate, so maybe we could help get some few members to join the fire service. It shows the people we not only work hard but we play hard too.”

Each volunteer fire company that participated in all the games revived a $250 donation from the Auburn Rotary Club.