Larkspur Fire Muster 1978-1984 - Marin County Fire History

The Larkspur Fire Muster, a traditional fire service competitive event, full story coming.

The Larkspur Fire Muster was a regional competition that ran for seven years, from 1978 to 1984. It attracted teams from Northern California, and featured events such as a firefighter obstacle course featuring multiple skills, a hose cart race that included antique equipment, using Larkspur's restored hose cart and the 1850 Austrian Hand Pumper, a barrel water fight, a 'make and break' hose coupling race, and the "Human Hose Clamp" hose extension evolution shown below. Also included in some years: A Chief's race with spouses, a pie-eating contest, a booster line pull race, and, during the drought, a contest to fill a bucket with dirt at a distance using a shovel and overhead throw. More information coming soon.

Elmer Collett, retired NFL 49'er player and now retired Kentfield Firefighter, pictured competing in the "Human Hose Clamp" event at the Larkspur Fire Muster. Normally several firefighters would 'clamp' the 2.5 inch charged hose line, but Elmer did it all by himself. Photo courtesy of Tom Forster.

The beer barrel water fight, initially with the beer keg on the ground. In later years it was strung above the competitors on a cable. Photo courtesy Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services Chief Tim Exline, retired.

The Tamalpais Valley FPD Muster Team pictured in the hose cart and hand pumper event. A hand line was first deployed with the hose cart, then after hooking the line up to the hand pumper discharge, the team would pump water until the nozzle man knocked down a traffic cone target. Photo courtesy Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services Chief Tim Exline, retired.

Another photo of the Tamalpais FPD Muster Team competing in the hose cart/hand pumper contest. Photo courtesy Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services Chief Tim Exline, retired.

A Tamalpais Valley FPD Muster Team member competing in the Obstacle Course. It included starting in bed and then donning PPE, plugging a flowing fire sprinkler head, taking a 1.5" handling up a ladder, donning SCBA, crawling under a low obstacle fence, the tire obstacle, and carrying sacks of sand to the finish line. Photo courtesy Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services Chief Tim Exline, retired.

A member of the Tamalpais FPD Muster Team competing in the pie eating contest. Former San Anselmo Firefighter Pat Williams is on his right. Photo courtesy Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services Chief Tim Exline, retired.

Retired Tamalpais Valley FPD Fire Chief Bob Souza shown competing with his wife in the Chief's race, that included having to wheel his wife to the finish line. Photo courtesy Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services Chief Tim Exline, retired.

The beer barrel water fight was a popular event at the Muster, where two teams with two 1.5" landlines each would compete pushing the barrel overhead past the other team to the end. It was usually the best of fine or seven. Photo courtesy of Tom Forster.