About
the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge
The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge
was developed more than a decade ago
as a fitness competition for firefighters
as a way to demonstrate the rigors of
the profession. The competition emerged
from the personal mission of Chief David
Gratz (then Director of Fire/Rescue in
Montgomery County, MD) to develop a physical
ability test to determine if potential
firefighters had the necessary abilities
to perform the rigorous job functions
one would face in the line of duty.
Dr. Paul
Davis, a former firefighter, was studying
the relationship between human physical
performance factors and health at the
University of Maryland when he partnered
up with Chief Gratz. The pair explored
their passion in the premier study to
examine the physical performance requirements
for firefighting. In 1976, with funding from the US Fire
Administration, Chief Gratz and Dr. Davis
developed five successive tasks demonstrating
common rigors of the profession. During
the study Dr. Davis noticed an extreme
competitiveness between the firefighters
and in 1991, these five tasks became
the backbone for the national firefighter
competition.
On May 5th, 1991, the inaugural Firefighter
Combat Challenge took place in Washington,
DC. Within a year the competition had
initial sponsors and grew to seven competitions
across the nation and by 1993, the National
Championship was aired on ESPN.
The Team STIHL firefighters began in
2000 when STIHL became the official sponsor
of the men's team. Virginia Beach firefighter
Gary Umphlett was instrumental in achieving
this sponsorship, as he was involved
with STIHL through teaching chain saw
safety to firefighters and public works
employees. With this already existing
public and private relationship between
Virginia Beach firefighters and STIHL,
the sponsorship would only help to show
the support STIHL has for fire safety
and service and just how important great
equipment is to firefighters when in
the line of duty.
"Since STIHL came on board, we've had
a great working relationship. STIHL has
provided everything we need to compete,
as well as the opportunity to travel
across the country. Everything we use
is STIHL. They've done so much for us
as a team."
Now dubbed as "the toughest two minutes
in sports," the Firefighter Combat Challenge
is hosted in over 20 locations nationwide,
attracts hundreds of U.S. and Canadian
competitors, and is viewed by millions
worldwide each year.
All events for the weekend are free
and open to the public. For more information
visit: www.firefighter-challenge.com.
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