The event had a little bit of everything, from a parade to street dance, a cornhole tournament, even a blood drive.

Almost everything.

The 12- to 15-minute fireworks show set up by Fire Art out of Clearfield, a branch of Ace Pyrotechnic of Manchester, Mich., including about 200 shells that would have flown from 150 to over 300 feet, and several hundred accents that would add color starting a ground level, had to be called off when heavy rains struck town Saturday evening.

The Firefighter Challenge was a new event for Pine Grove Days.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Players compete in the cornhole tournament Saturday at Pine Grove Days.

Teams including firefighters from Russell, Lander, Glade, and Wrightsville volunteer fire departments competed in a six-event course.

In full gear, the firefighters had to scale a simulated roof, cross bare floor joists, crawl through a 24-inch sluice pipe, knock over a 55-gallon drum and roll it out of a 40-foot circle using only water, simulate a roof chop with sledgehammers, and carry a dummy.

Revitalization of Akeley/Russell (ROAR) officials asked the Russell Volunteer Fire Department if they could put on some kind of event, according to Dale Trubic, who served as one of the judges of the challenge.

He said the challenge, although it has not been held for a while locally, is a long-standing tradition.

“The guys wanted to do it,” he said.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry The crew from Fire Art of Clearfield sets up for the fireworks Saturday at Pine Grove Days. The display had to be called off when heavy rains struck Saturday evening.

Instead of just putting on a demonstration, they invited all of the departments in the county to participate and set up a competition, Trubic said.

Four departments sent people, with a team from Lander and Wrightsville setting the time to beat, and Trubic is hoping for more in the future. “I’ve got plans for next year’s already,” he said. “We’re restarting a tradition.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A team of firefighters from Russell and Glade volunteer fire departments compete in the nozzle evolution event during the Firefighters Challenge Saturday at Pine Grove Days.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A team of firefighters from Russell and Glade volunteer fire departments compete in the 24-inch sluice pipe crawl event during the Firefighters Challenge Saturday at Pine Grove Days.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A team of firefighters from Russell and Glade volunteer fire departments compete in the simulated roof event during the Firefighters Challenge Saturday at Pine Grove Days.