Firefighters compete in combat challenge Published Sept. 13, 2006 By Kelley Chambers 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Five Tinker firefighters joined 160 of their firefighting colleagues from around the globe to compete in a rigorous obstacle course challenge, nicknamed the "Toughest Two Minutes in Sports," over the Labor Day weekend in Tyler, Texas. The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge is an intense, spirited competition that seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession's rigors to their stakeholders - citizens of their local communities. The challenge has won high praise for its fidelity to the job and for providing the public with a greater appreciation of the physical demands of firefighting. Unlike sports that exist solely for entertainment value, the challenge is about performing one of the most dangerous and demanding jobs safer and better. "I thought we did fairly well for the first time running the event officially for the first time," said Tinker firefighter John Fogg. "But I know we can do better, and will do better at the world competition to be held in November in Henderson, Nevada." In the individual challenge category, Tinker firefighter Vince Dill completed a series of excruciating maneuvers with a time of 2:10.07 while wearing a complete set of firefighting equipment, which weighs approximately 65 pounds. Wearing "full bunker gear" and a Scott breathing apparatus, firefighters simulate the physical demands of real life firefighting by competing on a linked series of five tasks. Dominating the landscape is a five-story hydraulic tower, the centerpiece of all the activity. Competitors climb to the top of the tower carrying a 42-pound "high-rise" pack then hoist a 42-pound hose roll to the top. Next, they descend to the ground floor where they simulate chopping by swinging a 9-pound shot mallet on the end of a 160-pound steel beam. They then zigzag 140 feet through simulation hydrants to the fourth station, where they advance an attack hose a distance of 75 feet. Finally, competitors drag a life-sized, 175-pound "victim" a distance of 100 feet to the finish line. "This event demonstrates how physically demanding our job can be," said Tinker Station Chief Terry Spaulding. The regional championship pitted five Department of Defense fire departments and the U.S. Air Force Academy against each other. Participants, however, said that while winning was important, it was not the entire focus of the event. "Win, lose or draw it's about the camaraderie and the sportsmanship of the challenge," said Tinker Base Fire Chief Terry Ford. "I'm extremely proud of these firefighters, who at their 'first time at bat,' scored a home run and qualified to advance to the world championships." Other team Tinker members included Captain Brian Farris and firefighter Marty Graham.