Fire hose challenge offers wet fun for kids

There's no better way to beat the summer heat than getting soaked; and the Batavia Fire Department is here to help.

Back by popular demand, the fire hose challenge will once again grace the Batavia Windmill City Festival. Starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11 on the Riverwalk near Houston Street, the competition is free and requires no preregistration.

The challenge consists of teams of kids using water from a spraying fire hose to attempt to move a ball on a string past a marked point. The string remains stagnant, but the pressure of the water causes the ball to jump wildly, resulting in a coordination challenge for all.

Kids of all ages are welcome to participate, though they must be able to stand on their own. Volunteers from the fire department will supervise the fun and help the teams of kids reach their goal.

"Usually during the festival, it's pretty warm," said Lt. Jami White. "The hoses don't always hit the target so you're just about guaranteed to get wet."

Due to the height of the competing players, the ball is located at eye level. Even nonparticipants can enjoy the challenge, as watching kids squirt each other in the face with water is part of the fun, according to event organizers.

No prizes are rewarded, but the winning team gets the honor of getting their ball across first, White said.

"It gives kids the opportunity to squirt the fire hose, get a little wet and have fun in the process," he said.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=392260">Batavia's Windmill City Festival features friendly competition<span class="date">[07/08/10]</span></a></li>

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