Firefighters protect Celebration grounds

Some of the Shelbyville firefighters spend off-duty hours protecting the visitors and horses at the Celebration. From left are Jason Richardson, Josh Carlock, Lt. Rob Rhodes, Commander Robert Wessner, Eric Smith, Jason Blanton and Ben Swing. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Uniforms are a common sight on the Celebration grounds, whether it's the Boy Scouts carrying in the giant American flag or the Bedford County deputies providing assistance to the Celebration security staff. State troopers, city police and emergency medical service providers are all on hand -- as is the Shelbyville Fire Department.

After days of rain, it's hard to imagine needing firefighters, but Commander Rob Wessner says the department is always at the Celebration.

"I've been a member of the department for 34 years now, and I've been coming out here since then," he said.

The job has gotten a little bit easier in recent years.

"We used to be out here 24/7 during the Celebration," said Wessner. "We had our own building."

That building was taken out when the Celebration Plaza was put in, and the Celebration and fire department powers that be decided their presence was really more essential at night, when the crowds were there.

"Back in the '70's, traffic congestion was so bad, you couldn't risk trying to get to the grounds on time," said Wessner. "It made more sense to be on-site."

There are six off-duty firefighters who take the Celebration duty each night, with two patrolling the arena, fire extinguishers in hand. On Tuesday night, there were seven because Josh Carlock, the city's newest firefighter, showed up for some on-the-job training before actually beginning work Thursday.

Because the firefighters are off duty, that leaves the city's regular fire departments fully staffed. The city and the Celebration cover the costs, he believed.

With barns, horses, and lots of combustible things like hay around, the firefighters can't relax and watch the show. In fact, they rarely get to glimpse more than those horses being led into the inspection area or out of the arena.

"We had a fire Saturday," said Wessner. "A horse trailer caught fire."

Over the past few years, there have been very few fires for the team to handle, and Wessner can't remember any at all that involved injury to horses or humans.

"Mostly it's like a truck catching fire, or [a] camper," he said.

But the firefighters help out in other areas as well.

"We're here to help if the EMS needs some heavy lifting," he said.

Then there's the PR factor.

"Oh, it's great public relations," Wessner admitted. "We get lots of little kids -- and big ones -- coming over to look at the truck. I think it just makes people feel safer, knowing we're here in case something does happen."