Comstock Firemen’s Museum
Liberty engine Co. No. 1
News Release
July 11, 2011
For Immediate Release

Muster Benefits Fire Museum
LARGEST GATHERING OF ANTIQUE FIRE APPARATUS IN NEVADA

The largest gathering of antique fire apparatus in Nevada will take place in Virginia City Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17, as the non-profit Comstock Firemen’s Museum hosts a weekend of firemen’s muster activities.

The firemen’s muster is open to the public at no charge and is being held on E Street near the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad freight depot. The muster competition, which many say is a living history demonstration of the nation’s fire heritage, features 19th century hand pumped fire engines, steam powered fire engines, motorized pumpers and hosewagons dating from 1900, as well as hose cart races and bucket brigade contests.

The weekend’s activities begin on Saturday with a parade on C Street beginning at 9:00 a.m. followed by muster competition at 10:00 a.m. The firemen’s muster competition is sanctioned by the California Firemen’s Muster Association (CFMA) under whose rules visiting teams and antique equipment will meet. More information on the muster as well as a link to the CFMA website can be found on the muster website at http://virginiacitymuster.tlcurtis.com.

Saturday’s competition will begin with motorized fire apparatus competing in seven hosewagon divisions based on the age of the fire equipment, starting with chain-driven equipment and apparatus built between 1900 and 1986. Among a number of historic motorized fire apparatus competing Saturday will be Virginia City’s first motorized fire apparatus, a 1929 Chevrolet, and a 1931 Howe-REO Speedwagon pumper, the first fire apparatus in Boulder City.

Virginia City will fire up its circa 1879 Clapp & Jones steam powered fire engine in a rare demonstration of its firefighting capabilities following the motorized competition. Approximately 5,000 steam fire engines were manufactured in the U.S. between 1852 and 1917. It has been estimated that fewer than 400 exist today.

That will be followed by hand-drawn hose cart races, and competition between antique hand pumped fire engines dating between 1810-1900 with men’s bucket bridge contests, demonstration one of the oldest forms of firefighting, completing the day’s competition.

Sunday’s competition will start at 9:00 a.m. with motorized pumper competition in seven divisions based on the age of the fire equipment followed by vintage and men’s hose cart races and women’s bucket brigade competition.
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