Bemidji's early firemen did a lot more than fight fires
The annual tournament of the Northern Minnesota Firemen's Tournament association (western division) was held in Bemidji during the week of the Fourth of July in 1910. The Bemidji Commercial Club recommended that the races and contests be arranged so that the visiting firemen could camp here and take an outing while participating in the tournament.
Source: bemidjipioneer.com