Firefighters from Montgomery County’s Fifth Fire District and a little beyond competed Saturday in the annual Water Battle and Firefighters’ Showdown at School Road Park in Hatfield Township. Assistant Chief Andrew Lerch of the Hatfield Volunteer Fire Company says the 100-degree heat was bad, but not really a problem.

“Everybody seems to be having a good time and enjoying the company and fellowship of other firefighters.  We all are close companies and we work together on big fires and we’re always willing to help each other out.”

The Hilltown Fire Company from Bucks County competed for its first time.  Captain Brandon Woodward says they decided to join in because they run a lot of mutual aid calls with fire companies on the Montgomery County side of the line.

“It’s just nice to see faces sometime other than the middle of the night for a fire call, and it’s nice to have a little bit of friendly competition between the mutual aid departments.”

Woodward says they held up pretty well under the 100-degree heat by keeping hydrated, getting cold water on themselves and using a towel as much as possible, and afterward they went for a swim.