This “Design of the Week” features Orrville Fire Department!

Excel Sportswear's Design of the week Orrville Fire Department

Excel Sportswear's Design of the week Orrville Fire Department

Excel Sportswear's Design of the week Orrville Fire Department

We’re celebrating this Fourth of July week by making this festive shirt from the Orrville Fire Department our Design of the Week!

On this July 2nd – 6th, 2019 the Orrville Firefighters are hosting their annual “Fire in the Sky Celebration,” a week-long festival that includes parades, softball and volleyball tournaments, and, of course, a massive fireworks display. It is estimated that more than 50,000 spectators descend upon the town for Saturday’s finale, more than five times the population of Orrville itself!

Located in roughly 50 miles south of Cleveland in Wayne County, Ohio, Orrville is a town with a population around 8,500 and is home to some significant industry including Smuckers Jelly, Will-Burt, and Ventrac Tractors.

“We are incredibly proud of the fact that we manage to run a department that handles over 1000 call per year, without any staffing on station,” says Orrville FD Lieutenant Craig Hostetler. “We are very fortunate to have the dedicated members and solid backing from the City of Orrville Administration.”

The Orrville Fire Department has two stations serving their community, with Station #1 located downtown and Station #2 in the city’s west end. So when it came to planning a shirt design, Lt. Hostetler needed to consider both locations.

“Although we are the same department, our two stations are very competitive,” laughs Hostetler. “So we saw it fitting to use one truck from each station in the shirt design.” On top is Engine 69, a 1999 Ferrara American LaFrance, and the apparatus on the bottom of the design is Engine 67, a 2012 Smeal Spartan.

Fireworks and a Ferris wheel complete the design, illustrated by Excel artist Richard Miller, celebrating their “Fire in the Sky Celebration” tradition.

“The fireworks and carnival design on the shirt carry a huge significance to us,” Hostetler explains. “Every fourth of July for the past 35 years our firefighters association puts on the “Fire In The Sky Festival.” The fireworks are assembled, wired and shot by our department personnel who are licensed and trained by Zambelli Fireworks International.”

“Throughout that week we also host a 14u ASA Girls Softball Tournament that has blossomed into a destination tournament hosting over 100 teams from all over the Eastern US and a few from Canada. Local visitors bureaus estimate that over our seven-day event approximately $4 – $6 million is pumped into our local economy,” says Hostetler, proudly.

“I searched around a little bit looking for a company to assist with this project when it came to my attention that your company had been making shirts for Brewster Fire Dept, who is about 30 minutes south of us,” explains Hostetler. “I had seen several of their past shirts, and even have a few of them. So, I thought I would give you company a shot first! After talking with Steve, and giving him a general idea of what I was thinking, I pretty much told him to just turn the artists loose on it! Shortly thereafter, I heard back from Tina and was blown away with the artwork I received, it exceeded my expectations by far, and literally needed no changes it was perfect!”

“Working with your company was a pleasant, painless experience,” says Hostetler. “Your team was always prompt to return information and answer questions. From design to art to delivery, everything was handled in a timely professional manner. I look forward to doing more business with Excel in the future. Not to mention timing was perfect… so our members can wear their new shirts at the festival!”

Keep up with the Orrville Firefighters Association on Facebook.

And, be sure to enjoy their “Fire in the Sky Celebration” all week long, July 2-6, 2019.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY from all of us here at Excel Sportswear!

This “Design of the Week” features Orrville Fire Department!

We’re celebrating this Fourth of July week by making this festive shirt from the Orrville Fire Department our Design of the Week!

On this July 2nd – 6th, 2019 the Orrville Firefighters are hosting their annual “Fire in the Sky Celebration,” a week-long festival that includes parades, softball and volleyball tournaments, and, of course, a massive fireworks display. It is estimated that more than 50,000 spectators descend upon the town for Saturday’s finale, more than five times the population of Orrville itself!

Excel Sportswear's Design of the week Orrville Fire Department

Located in roughly 50 miles south of Cleveland in Wayne County, Ohio, Orrville is a town with a population around 8,500 and is home to some significant industry including Smuckers Jelly, Will-Burt, and Ventrac Tractors.

“We are incredibly proud of the fact that we manage to run a department that handles over 1000 call per year, without any staffing on station,” says Orrville FD Lieutenant Craig Hostetler. “We are very fortunate to have the dedicated members and solid backing from the City of Orrville Administration.”

The Orrville Fire Department has two stations serving their community, with Station #1 located downtown and Station #2 in the city’s west end. So when it came to planning a shirt design, Lt. Hostetler needed to consider both locations.

Excel Sportswear's Design of the week Orrville Fire Department

“Although we are the same department, our two stations are very competitive,” laughs Hostetler. “So we saw it fitting to use one truck from each station in the shirt design.” On top is Engine 69, a 1999 Ferrara American LaFrance, and the apparatus on the bottom of the design is Engine 67, a 2012 Smeal Spartan.

Fireworks and a Ferris wheel complete the design, illustrated by Excel artist Richard Miller, celebrating their “Fire in the Sky Celebration” tradition.

“The fireworks and carnival design on the shirt carry a huge significance to us,” Hostetler explains. “Every fourth of July for the past 35 years our firefighters association puts on the “Fire In The Sky Festival.” The fireworks are assembled, wired and shot by our department personnel who are licensed and trained by Zambelli Fireworks International.”

“Throughout that week we also host a 14u ASA Girls Softball Tournament that has blossomed into a destination tournament hosting over 100 teams from all over the Eastern US and a few from Canada. Local visitors bureaus estimate that over our seven-day event approximately $4 – $6 million is pumped into our local economy,”says Hostetler, proudly.

“I searched around a little bit looking for a company to assist with this project when it came to my attention that your company had been making shirts for Brewster Fire Dept, who is about 30 minutes south of us,” explains Hostetler. “I had seen several of their past shirts, and even have a few of them. So, I thought I would give you company a shot first! After talking with Steve, and giving him a general idea of what I was thinking, I pretty much told him to just turn the artists loose on it! Shortly thereafter, I heard back from Tina and was blown away with the artwork I received, it exceeded my expectations by far, and literally needed no changes it was perfect!”

Excel Sportswear's Design of the week Orrville Fire Department

“Working with your company was a pleasant, painless experience,” says Hostetler. “Your team was always prompt to return information and answer questions. From design to art to delivery, everything was handled in a timely professional manner. I look forward to doing more business with Excel in the future. Not to mention timing was perfect… so our members can wear their new shirts at the festival!”

Keep up with the Orrville Firefighters Association on Facebook.

And, be sure to enjoy their “Fire in the Sky Celebration” all week long, July 2-6, 2019.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY from all of us here at Excel Sportswear!