The history of Twin Valley Fire & Smoke
An idea
In 2018, an idea came about to host a barbeque fundraiser, at the suggestion of a couple of fire department members who participate as local barbeque competitors. After doing some research on how to organize and run such an event and upon the approval of the department, a committee was formed.
An available date
The Kansas City Barbeque Society was contacted to see if a proposed date was available. With the help of Sandy Fulton (an event organizer), the wheels for the event were set in motion.
The first event
The first competition was held at Friendship Park in Morgantown, PA. The first competition was attended by 75 Master and Backyard Series competitors. As with any first time event, there were challenges, the biggest of which was providing electric to the competitors.
Continuing events
Since the first competition, there has been an average of 65 teams attend the competition every year. Twin Valley Fire Department has learned a great deal on hosting a successful KCBS event.
Current state
The competition has since moved to its current location at the Classic Auto Mall. The barbeque committee of Twin Valley Fire Department takes care of all the yearly organizing and advertising.
Event offerings
Fire & Smoke has raffle baskets and vendors of all types. The event is free and open to the public with food available and a wing cook-off competition that is judged by the public. The barbeque teams aren’t allowed to hand out samples or sell their barbeque at the competition.
Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society
Twin Valley Fire & Smoke is a KCBS-sanctioned event, meaning it follows the official rules and judging standards set by the Kansas City Barbeque Society to ensure a fair and competitive experience.
The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to promoting and sanctioning barbeque competitions. Founded in 1986, KCBS sets the official rules and standards for contests, ensuring a fair and consistent judging process based on appearance, tenderness, and taste.
With certified judges and teams competing for points toward national rankings, KCBS-sanctioned events like Twin Valley Fire & Smoke bring a high level of professionalism and prestige to the competition.
About the host, Twin Valley Fire Department
Twin Valley Fire Department has proudly been a host and operator of the Fire & Smoke barbeque event since 2018.
The Twin Valley Fire Department proudly serves six municipalities across Berks and Chester Counties, providing fire and rescue coverage to more than 44 square miles of the Twin Valley region. With three stations located in Morgantown, Elverson, and the Twin Valley area, the department also offers mutual aid to surrounding communities and covers a significant stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Formed in 2007 through the merger of the Elverson and Morgantown fire companies, Twin Valley Fire Department stands as a testament to regional cooperation, dedicated service, and a shared commitment to protecting the community.
