Firefighters Battle It Out in the Snow

Town of Virgil, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Hundreds of firefighters descend upon Greek Peak in the Town of Virgil Saturday.

It’s the 6th annual Firemen’s Association of the State of New York Winter Games this weekend.

You’ve probably been tubing before or even joined in on some winter activities, but you haven’t done it quite like what firefighters are doing at Greek Peak this weekend.

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York kicked off the 6th Annual Winter Games.

Firefighters came out in record numbers Saturday. They were dressed head to toe in their fire gear.

“The fire service works very hard three hundred and sixty five, sixty four days a year and we take this weekend off and have a time to meet and greet each other,” said David Jacobowitz, President of FASNY.

More than 300 firefighters have shown up from all over New York State and forty six teams showing their strength, team-work, skills and having a great time.

The competitors were up early for the tubing contest.

Each team had their own strategies for getting down the mountain in the fastest time possible.

“I would say it strengthens morale wise, the competition wise it brings us together as a team and same as fighting a fire, everybody works together,” said Hampton Bays Firefighter, John Tedesco.

“Third place in tubing and we did kind of OK, I think we had a pretty good time on the sled pull but were close not there though,” said Mike Heneka of the Manlius Fire Department.

There were three games Saturday: the tubing, sled pull, and tug of war, all include team work and of course bragging rights for the winners.

“It’s a blast, I mean its just kind of funny seeing everyone in their turn out gear, going down five people on tubes but it’s good team work everyone kind of gets together and go out there just do your thing, just have fun,” said Heneka.

Jacobowitz says it’s important to allow firefighters to have this time to get away and build up the morale for their departments.

The Games continue Sunday with the Broome Ball Tournament at the Suny Cortland Ice Rink.

An awards ceremony will begin at 1 P.M.

Cortlandville won the Tubing contest Saturday and is just one of the winning Fire Departments of the weekend.