Firefighter Combat Challenge

The Firefighter Combat Challenge tests the physical fitness and endurance of our firefighters in a gruelling event worthy of the nickname "the toughest two minutes in sports."

Teams of three to five firefighters compete individually wearing full National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) gear and a 4.5 Scott air pack. The top three finishing times from each team are combined for a total team time to determine final standings. Teams with a time under nine minutes and individuals with a time under three minutes qualify for the Canadian championships.

The Combat Challenge

The Combat Challenge includes five events:

1. Stair Climb – firefighters carry a 42 pound, high-rise, standpipe pack to the top of a five-storey tower and deposit the load into a designated box.
2. Hose Hoist – using a hand over hand motion, firefighters pull a 5/8-inch rope to hoist a 45 pound roll of large diameter hose (LDH) and deposit it into a designated box.
3. Forcible Entry – using a nine pound shot mallet and force machine, firefighters drive a 165 pound I-beam five feet.
4. Hose Advance – firefighters move 140 feet through marked hydrants, pick up a 45 mm charged hose line, move forward another 75 feet, open the nozzle and hit a designated target.
5. Victim Rescue – firefighters drag a 175 pound victim a distance of 100 feet. The time stops when the dummy is completely across the line.

More information on the Firefighter Combat Challenge can be found on the Fire Fit website.

View our photo gallery below to see images of our recent Firefighter Combat Challenge. You can also read our media coverage in the Stratford Beacon Herald.