July 22, 2004

Friendly competition heats up at
state Summer Olympic Firefighter games

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Bright and early Sunday morning, firefighters from around California convened at Almaden Lake Park to swim, bike, and run through a challenging triathlon. Shoulder to shoulder, they dove into the cool blue water, pumped their legs along twisting pathways, and raced for glory, pushing their bodies to their limits to set their best possible times.

The triathlon was the first in a weeklong series of events heralding the start of the 33rd Annual California Firefighters’ Summer Olympics, hosted this year by San Jose Fire Fighters Local 230. Throughout the week, California firefighters will test their mettle against each other in 29 summer Olympic sports, ranging from surfing, bass fishing, and motorcross to ice hockey, flag football, and paintball. Event highlights include an opening ceremony featuring the Firefighter’s Pipe and Drum Corps, Honor Guard, and Choir; Junior Firefighter’s Olympics for ages 5 through 12, which includes a bungee run, jousting, and laser tag; and a Hook and Ladder Luau, presented by San Jose Fire Fighters Local 230.

Fire Capt. Bryan Hunt of the city of Ceres, located in the Central Valley, enjoys the camaraderie among the firefighters during their summer Olympics. “I came out to compete with my local brothers and sisters in the fire service, and have a good time,” he said. “We’re staying in shape, trying to keep ourselves healthy. I felt really strong and achieved one of my fastest times. It was a good course and a lot of fun.”

“It was great to see firefighters from different areas of California swimming together and cheering everyone else on,” enthused firefighter paramedic Tino Buccola, who hails from Monrovia in Southern California. “We did it all together, and that’s what was nice about it. I’ll be at the next Firefighters Olympics, wherever it’s at!”

In the Age 40 and Below category, Joey Figone won the gold medal with a time of 53:13, Robert Frappia captured the silver medal with a time of 53:29, and Brian Greed took the bronze medal with a time of 57:46. In the Age 41 and Above category, Mike Patterson struck gold with a time of 52:43, Glenn Miller mined silver with a time of 55:29, and Servando Morales found bronze with a time of 58:50. Donna McCracken received a special medal for representing the women’s division with a time of 1:05:50.

“Doing the Firefighter Olympics is the best thing all year round,” asserted Napa firefighter engineer inspector and silver medal winner Frappia. “I’ve done lots of triathlons and this one is unique because you get to compete against people that are in the same walk of life that you’re in. It’s low key, and you get to talk with everybody you know and that’s what makes it really fun.”

Gold medal winner Michael Patterson, a firefighter engineer with the city of San Jose at Fire Station #24, wanted to participate in the event to represent San Jose as the Summer Olympic’s host city. “This was my key event and I looked forward to coming out and competing with other firefighters from around the state,” Patterson said. “It’s fun to meet a lot of people, talk with each other, see how things are going in other cities, and have a good time.”

“I felt great,” stated South San Francisco Fire Department Capt. and silver medal winner Glenn Miller, who competes in seven or eight other races annually, and has been contending in the Firefighter Olympics for 25 years. “I like the venue, and being part of a smaller group where you can talk. This is the pinnacle of all my competitions, and it’s for bragging rights for the fire service. The fire race is the top race for me.”

“Being healthy, and seeing other people that think along the same lines I do, is why I do this,” said firefighter paramedic Servando Morales, who works at Fire Station #6 in Oakland. “This was my best one yet,” he remarked, regarding his fourth triathlon time. “I’m happy that I finished and I’m still walking.” Morales is also looking forward to shooting hoops and playing basketball with other firefighters throughout the week, as part of their Olympic Games, as well as kicking back to watch a Raiders game together.

For Berkeley Fire Department Capt. Donna McCracken, the triathlon was fun to do because it was with a smaller group. “It actually feels more competitive that way,” she observed. “It’s launched as one wave with everyone competing at the same time.” McCracken said she also enjoyed talking with the other firefighters and finding out where they were from.

As morning flowed into afternoon, and the park gave way to children splashing in the water and families spreading out towels on the sand, the firefighters relaxed at picnic tables under shady trees, celebrating this opportunity to be together, and looking forward to a week of friendly competition.