Ridgway Firemen's carnival holds Battle of the Barrel

RIDGWAY, Pa. (WJAC) — The Battle of the Barrel event began Wednesday in Elk County, along Main Street in downtown Ridgway.

Organizers say this was their big comeback after a 15-year absence.

Firefighters from five departments around the area competed by shooting water on a metal barrel hanging off a wire.

The goal is for the teams to get the barrel to the other team's side of the wire. It was a double-elimination competition.

The Penfiled Fire Department came in first place, with the Friendship Hose Company from DuBois coming in second.

“Everybody's always saying their favorite memory is the Battle of the Barrel,” said Brice McKay, with the Ridgway Fire Department. “And I grew up with my dad doing Battle of the Barrel. And I remember sitting on the curb splashing, so I have my four kids here and that's what they're gonna do. It does really help with the skills, and more or less it's just a good way to release energy. And, er, brotherly energy I guess.”

This is part of the annual Ridgway Firemen's carnival. It's going on until Saturday.

The carnival is the department's biggest fundraiser of the year.

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