State Fire Convention in Manchester This Week

Fire departments from across the state are in Manchester this week for the State Fire Convention.

This is the fifth time Manchester has hosted the state event – and the first time since 2019. Ed Tibbott and Adam Nylund are co-chairing this year’s convention. 

Tibbott says around 1,300 people representing around one hundred fire departments are registered for the big event. The State Fire Convention is based at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, which transforms into its own little “town” this week.

Tibbott says the State Fire Convention is something he enjoys each year.

The fire departments will be participating in waterball competitions on the north end of Grand Avenue – with Old Timers and Co-Ed competitions on Wednesday and Ladies competitions on Thursday. The public is more than welcome to come watch from 1 to 3 pm each day. Tibbott explains how those waterball competitions work.

He says some competitions don’t involve water.

On Friday, waterball and other competitions move to downtown Manchester along East Main and Madison from roughly 8 to 5, with a moment of silence to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. 

They’ll wrap up the week with the State Fire Convention parade on Saturday at 2 pm before everyone heads home on Sunday.

He says hosting the State Fire Convention brings a big financial boost – not only to the Manchester Fire Department to help purchase equipment, but to the local economy too. 

audio and photo courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH