EVENT DESCRIPTIONS

FIREFIGHTER COMBAT CHALLENGE

The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge® began over 10 years ago as a one-time, regional competition showcasing the importance of physical fitness in the firefighting profession. Today, with that same goal in mind, the Challenge series takes place in more than 20 locations annually including regional, national and world competition levels. The Challenge attracts hundreds of fire department teams as they compete to prove they are the best in their profession.

For the duration of the Challenge events, competitors must wear full bunker gear and a SCOTT Air-Pak breathing apparatus, which together can weigh up to 50 pounds. The Challenge includes five consecutive real-life firefighting tasks that are performed by two competitors head-to-head. Each event must be performed in the order specified below:

EVENT 1 High Rise Pack Carry: The competition starts at the base of a 5-story tower. A 3-inch hose, weighing 42 pounds, may be carried in any manner up the five stories and must be deposited into a container on the top floor. Proper placement is on or in the container, with no part of the pack touching the deck, and a 2-second penalty will be assessed for this infraction. The hose load must stay on the top platform, and the competitor is disqualified if the high-rise pack falls off the top of the tower. The handrails may be used in climbing the tower and steps may be taken in multiples on the way up. Once completed the competitor descends the tower to the base to begin the next event.

EVENT 2 Hose Hoist: A 42-pound, donut-hole hose and 5/8" kern mantle rope is used for this event, in which the competitor must bring this hose again to the top of the 5-story tower and place it in the container on the top floor. Proper placement is on or in the container with no part of the donut touching the deck, and a 2-second penalty will be assessed for this infraction. The donut roll must stay on the top platform. Disqualification results with any loss of control of the donut roll, including falling off the tower, rolling down the stairs or interfering with the adjacent competitor. A fallen donut roll may not be retrieved. Once the hose is properly placed, the competitor must then descend the tower, and touch every step.

EVENT 3 Forcible Entry: The forcible entry event utilizes the Keiser Force Machine™, a chopping simulator. Using the 9-pound mallet provided, the competitor must drive a 160-pound steel beam a horizontal distance of five feet. Pushing, raking or hooking the beam is not allowed; only the head of the mallet is allowed to strike the beam, and the handle must not come in contact with the beam at any time. The upper edge of the beam will be covered with pressure sensitive tape, making infractions visible by a mark on the tape. A 5-second penalty is assessed for each infraction after the first handle strike. Both hands must be above the tape mark on the handle (12 inches from the head end) at the point of impact. A 2-second penalty is assessed for every inch or fraction of each inch that the sled is short of the 5-foot distance. The hammer must be placed on the designated 3' x 3' mat. A 2-second penalty is assessed for failure to do so. Once this event is completed, the competitor moves to the Hose Advance.

EVENT 4 Hose Advance: The competitor must negotiate the 140-foot slalom course without missing or knocking over any cones; doing so will result in a 5-second penalty for each infraction. The competitor must pick up the nozzle end of the 1 and 3/4" charged hose line, forward of the stripe 6 feet from the nozzle and drag it a distance of 75 feet. Once the nozzle crosses the 75-foot mark, the competitor opens the nozzle and hits a target with the water stream, then shuts down the nozzle and places the nozzle on the pavement. If the nozzle is not shut before it is placed down, the competitor must go back and close it. If course staff is required to shut off the nozzle, a 5-second penalty will be assessed. If the nozzle opens after hitting the ground, there is no penalty and the competitor can continue to the Victim Rescue.

EVENT 5 Victim Rescue: A 175-pound Simulaids, Inc., Rescue Randy® mannequin must be dragged backwards a distance of 100 feet. Carrying the dummy is not permitted. If any competitor goes out of his or her lane, a 5-second penalty will be assessed. Any contact with the opposing competitor will result in disqualification. The mannequin must not be grasped by its clothing or appendages. Time stops when the competitor and victim completely cross the finish line and end the 5-event competition.