Firefighter Games Offer Smokin’ Hot Competition

The battle to find the fittest, fastest and most effective firefighter in North America will be held October 10 - 12 in downtown Montgomery, Alabama at the SCOTT National Firefighter Combat Challenge. Over 250 firefighters from all over the United States and Canada will compete, including representatives from the Montgomery Fire Rescue.

According to Montgomery Fire Chief Miford Jordan, the challenge emphasizes fitness and helps firefighters meet the demands of their jobs. “The readiness and skills of competition are required of firefighters every day on the job. When we improve our performance in the Combat Challenge we also improve our service to the people of Montgomery,” said Jordan.

Montgomery has hosted regional Firefighter Combat Challenges in 2011 and 2012. This year’s national level event will have an economic impact of around $150,000. The chief said Montgomery Fire/Rescue is honored to host the 2013 national competition. “This is a great opportunity for us to showcase Montgomery and provide River Region families a chance to enjoy this world-class spectator sport,” Jordan said.

The SCOTT Firefighter Combat Challenge® has been seen on ESPN for a dozen years! The Challenge seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession's rigors to the public. Wearing "full bunker gear" and the SCOTT Air-Pak breathing apparatus, pairs of competitors race head-to-head as they simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the 5-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. "victim" as they race against themselves, their opponent and the clock.

Competitors will face off at 3 PM on Thursday, October 10th and Friday, October 11th with the finals at 10 AM on Saturday, October 12th. The competition will be held on an obstacle course set up in a parking lot at the corner of Tallapoosa and Commerce Streets. The public is encouraged to attend this action packed, family friendly, FREE event. The 2nd Annual Top Chef Firefighter District Cook-off Competition will also be held in conjunction with the event from 10 AM – 1 PM on October 12th with judging at 1 PM at the corner of Water and Commerce Streets. Also, kids can ride on a Montgomery Fire Rescue Fire Truck on Saturday morning. Rides will load and unload at the corner of Commerce and Tallapoosa Streets.

Montgomery Fire Rescue will have over 100 competitors competing in the Combat Challenge.  There will be representatives from each fire station and each division.  Going into the national event, the Montgomery Combat Challenge Relay Team has the fastest time this year.

For more information on the National Firefighter Combat Challenge contact Assistant Fire Chief K.D. Gordon at 334-309-5201 or e-mail at kgordon@montgomeryal.gov.

About Montgomery, “A Cool Capital City on the Move:” Centrally located along the Alabama River in the heart of the Southeast, Montgomery is steeped in the history of world-changing events and is in the midst of another change – a complete reemergence. From a revitalized downtown to an array of new museums, restaurants, attractions and accommodations, the riverfront capital city is quickly becoming one of the newest must-see travel destinations in the South. Learn more about all that Montgomery has to offer at www.visitingmontgomery.com.