LAS VEGAS, NV - The 4th Annual Vegas Fire Games was held this May 2nd-5th at city and county parks all over Las Vegas. Coming together for this annual event were hundreds of the nation’s finest firefighters who brought with them some of their very best, big time competitive softball teams from all over the country.

The main event, and the reason for coming to Las Vegas, is probably the most competitive firemen’s softball tournament of the year. In only its 4th year, the best firemen softball teams have started to make this ‘National Invitational’ a must attend tournament and they come every year in the first week in May to participate in these games.

The Vegas Fire Games are three days of softball with the first day being pool play. A team is placed in a four-team pool and plays the other three teams the first day of the games. How a team finishes in pool play (placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th) determines its "draw’ for the double elimination tournament starting the second day. Every team entered advances to the double elimination brackets.

According to tournament director Russ Van De Mark, "The softball tournament is named ‘The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Softball Tournament’. The entry fee includes a $100 donation to the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, which all the players feel good about. The foundation helps families of firefighters killed on the job, including family counseling and scholarship funds!"

Van De Mark went on to say, "This year’s tournament was especially important because it was dedicated to a player named Curt Meyran and his family. Curt played in 2004. He lost his life in a fire in January of this year. Curt played 1st base for the New York City Masters team. His wife Jeanette and his three children joined the team in Las Vegas for this year’s tournament. The attitude of everyone here is "we take care of our own". That is very much a big part of this tournament!"

Teams play in one of three divisions. Division 1 is comprised of departments and "combos" of departments of over 350 total manpower. Division 2 is departments and "combos" totaling no more than 350 total manpower. The Masters Division is for "old guys". The only requirements are being a fireman and being at least 39 yrs old.

This year there were 39 teams in Division 1, 34 teams in Division 2 and 11 teams in the Masters Division.

Van De Mark had this to say about the competitive nature of the tournament, "Every division is very competitive and they like to say, "if you simply make it to the last day_you have done very well!" This year Division 1and the Masters Division went to the "If" games!"

In Division 1, New York Brothers4Ever came out of the loser’s bracket to win the division. They won six straight games that included a 27-26 win over San Antonio (last year’s champions). They also edged out a 13-12 win over 3rd place LA County Backdraft.

Division 2 was won by Norwood, Ohio for the 3rd consecutive year. 2nd place went to Metro Cleveland Fire whose only two loses were to Norwood, for the 2nd consecutive year.

The Masters Division was hard fought all day long. In the semi-final round New York City Masters beat San Jose Fire 25-17. San Jose Fire then defeated 3rd place San Antonio, 24-9, to get another shot at New York Masters. San Jose won the next meeting 29-28, to force and ‘If’ game. New York Masters finished off San Jose Fire 32-21 and claimed the Masters Division title. New York Masters was Curt Meyran’s team and after the victory the team gave the family the 1st place plaque. A very emotional finish to a great tournament.

For total results and more information about the Vegas Fire Games, check the web site at www.vegasfiregames.com or contact tournament director Russ Van De Mark at (949) 496-8052.