THE EARLY YEARS

During the early years of the association there was great anticipation and enthusiasm for the summer muster seasons.  Having the rules remain the same from muster to muster was a welcome advancement.  This allowed each team to practice and improve their skills in each event.  Simple things abounded.  Teams now knew how much hose to bring to each muster.  They knew what day, and at about what time, each event would be run and set their work schedules accordingly.  The course was roped off for the protection of the viewing public and it gave confidence to the competitors that the course was theirs.  Now with an adequate public address system, the event announcers were able to give more information about the contests and teams running, and more importantly, the ability to control the safety of the muster.

The cities hosting the musters now knew approximately how many teams and competitors would be present and set their budgets accordiingly.  This was a big advantage to muster hosts as before the CFMA began its operation nobody knew who, or how many people were expected to participate on any given weekend.  A tradition was created by selling collectable three inch round muster buttons.  These buttons became a way for hosts to advertise and produce income fot their musters.  Everyone bought one to help their new friends.

Bew teams were coming to the musters and joining the association.   They brought antique apparatus rarely seen before.  This created an additional purpose to the association.  The long hours spent restoring or preserving apparatus at home was rightfully rewarded by the appreciation of other fire departments and the public in general.  It was a time to show off your city's pride and joy either in the competition, or the parade or on static display.

The motorized contest had been, in the first year, a fire to hydrant evolution that left the apparatus at the hydrant and a long distance from most of the viewing stands.  The next year the contest was reversed placing the apparatus in the center of the course.  This was a big improvement, as now, the engines, beautifully restored or correctly preserved, were the star of the show.

With the establishment of a state record for each event, the teams now had a set goal to achieve and a time to shoot for at the muster.  The membership liked the idea of receiving placement points for order of finish for the state championships at each muster.  These points were accumulated for the year and the winners presented with a perpetual state championship trophy at the annual membership meeting, dinner, and dance held in October.

Highlights;  The first sanctioned muster was May 17-18, 1975 at the Merced County Fairgrounds hosted by the Merced Fire Department and the Merced County Fire Department.....The Saturday night barbecue chicken dinner cost $1.25....Luke Goodrich, San Jose Fire Department was elected the association's second president in 1976.   The 1976 San Francisco muster included the first out of state competitors.   The Albany, Oregon Fire Department was the hit of the muster by making a surprise course entrance with their working steam engine which was horse drawn.  Five members of the Dayton, Nevada Fire Department drove their 1930's motorized rig to the muster.   Their trip was going along great until they crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and ran out of gas at mid-span....