The late Thomas Earl Garrity Jr. began working on fire trucks at his G&G Metal Fabrications Inc. and Fire Equipment Services as a result of his volunteer service with the Sumter Fire Department.
Firefighters from throughout the state will come together Nov. 17-18 to participate in a Barbecue Challenge in Garrity’s memory. The Manchester, Connecticut, native, who founded his company as Santee Metal Fabrication in 1984, died Nov. 23, 2012.
“This year marks the 8th annual Tom Garrity Firefighters’ Barbecue Challenge, (which) benefits the local American Red Cross,” said former Clarendon County Fire Chief Carter Jones. “In 2010, Capt. Tom Garrity embraced the challenge of firefighters competing against each other while cooking. We all hear that firefighters are great cooks, so this was an opportunity to prove how good they were, and to offer camaraderie among different fire stations throughout the southeast.”
Jones said that firefighters have come from as far away as Virginia to compete.
“This year, the event will continue to grow and be bigger and better than ever,” he said.
Jones said that an Anything Butt competition will be held Nov. 17, with tickets sold for tasting at the door. He said the traditional Firefighters’ Challenge will be Nov. 18. All events will take place at the Sumter County Fairgrounds.
“The Southern Barbecue Network will sanction the event so teams can earn points for the SBN Competition,” said Jones. “We will still have a Firefighters’ only competition for the Firefighter Pet Master, along with the Peoples’ Choice Award.”
A new addition in the eighth year is an open category for anyone to compete separately under the Southern Barbecue Network.
“Each team will cook either a whole hog or Boston butt,” Jones said. “Anyone with a ticket will be able to taste and vote for the Peoples’ Choice Award.”
Jones said the defending champions are the Wedgefield Station No. 7 from Sumter County. Incidentally, it’s the station from which Garrity retired shortly before his passing in 2012.
Jones noted that, this year, more than $1,500 in prize money is up for grabs.
“Another addition continuing this year is the Explorers’ Junior Firefighters’ skills competition,” said Jones. “Teams will demonstrate their skills using bunker gear and hoses. The competition is limited to five teams with a minimum of four members and a maximum of seven.”
Jones said this event will take place while people walk around and enjoy barbecue from various teams.
“While there is a minimal fee for the team to enter, there is no additional fee to watch the competition,” he said.
The event will also feature displays of firefighter apparatus throughout the fair grounds.
“Many fire trucks, both old and new, will be on display to view as well as for photo opportunities,” Jones said. “We already have commitments of apparatus from the horse-drawn era to recent deliveries. Fire departments are encouraged to bring any vintage apparatus they have for display.”
There will also be puppet shows about fire safety.
Jones said that Friday’s festivities will be held from 6-9 p.m. He said Saturday’s will go from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Tickets for the Firefighters’ Barbecue Challenge cost $10, with children 10 and younger free,” he said. “Entry into the event provides each ticket holder the opportunity to sample each team’s barbecue at no extra charge while it lasts.”
He said that attendees may begin buying barbecue by the pound at the fairground gates starting at 9 a.m.
“Sandwiches, drinks and barbecue-by-the-pound will be available for purchase until 2 p.m.,” Jones said.
Jones said the fundraiser benefits the American Red Cross, specifically the Sandhills Chapter, which covers Sumter and Clarendon counties, because “Garrity witnessed firsthand the services provided by the American Red Cross to fire victims at the scene.”
“The American Red Cross, the Garrity family and Tom’s business partners continue to make Tom’s vision a reality,” Jones said.
The American Red Cross responds to a house fire every four hours across South Carolina. In the past 12 months, about 7,100 people were assisted after disasters About 92,688 pints of blood were collected; 39,659 individuals learned lifesaving skills; 9,010 case services were provided to the Armed Forces; 25,786 smoke detectors were installed; and 5,057 children received disaster preparedness information through the Pillowcase Project.
Likewise, 33,956 adults received such preparedness information.
“Across the country, nearly every second of every day, someone is assisted by the American Red Cross, and on average, 91 cents of every dollar goes directly to programs and services,” reads a release from the organization.
For more information or to enter the Firefighters’ Barbecue Challenge, call Dutch Holland at (910) 973-3223 or email wldutchholland@gmail.com. You may also call Robert Pegram at (803) 460-4877 or email rpegram@clarendoncountyfire.com. Applications and rules for entry for all areas may be found at www.sbbqn.com/firefighters-bbq-challenge.html.
