Reprinted with permission of
the Journal-News
By Kevin Chlum
HAMILTON — The Hamilton Fire Department will be racing down the
streets in downtown Hamilton Saturday afternoon.
But the firefighters won’t be rushing to a burning building
or to a car crash — one firefighter will be riding the streets on a ladder,
being pulled by three of his colleagues.
The Hamilton Fire Department is participating in the first
Great Miami Valley YMCA Sled Race at the third annual IceFest, which requires
the nine teams to race a 400-yard course in a homemade sled. Teams will consist
of one musher, a rider and three “dogs.” “The sled is in preparation,” said
Brian Ruhl, a member of the fire department team. Ruhl didn’t want to say much more, but did reveal that if all
goes as planned, the main structural support for the sled will be an old roof
ladder from the department.
“We have been talking about the sled for weeks, but unfortunately have had a tough time getting the materials we need,” Ruhl said. Sleds must be a minimum of six feet long and two feet wide, with wheels a maximum diameter of 10 inches. The team from First Financial Bank enlisted the help of an employee’s spouse in constructing their sled. “Fortunately, one of team member’s husbands has skill in that area or we would be in trouble,” said Woody Fitton of First Financial Bank. “Bankers are not known for being construction experts.” The fireman have not practiced pulling and riding the sled, nor have they tried to prepare for the various stations that will require teams to perform various tasks, Ruhl said. “We have had no practice other than our normal physical training,” Ruhl said. “We have done nothing (on the stations) so far because it’s up in the air as to what the events will entail.” The bankers, however, braved the chill Thursday night to test their sled, which was built mainly with plastic pipes and plywood. “We will be out trying to figure out what we are doing,” Fitton said. “Hopefully no one will be spectating and laughing at us.” The fireman were not sure of their opponents, so Ruhl was not about to declare victory for his team. “We don’t know who our opponents are, but we have ability,” Ruhl said. “We’ll give it our best.” According to Ruhl, the firefighters wanted to participate in IceFest because it is popular in the community. “It seems like IceFest had a pretty nice draw of citizens,” he said. “We felt that is was something that promoted the City of Hamilton and we were interested in being involved. Fitton is the chairman of board of the YMCA, which is how he heard of the sled race. “The bank has been active supporter of IceFest,” he said. “We want to make sure we played a role in supporting the new event. Hopefully, it will build in next couple of years and become a big part of IceFest.”