I just returned from Myrtle Beach, SC. where this year’s Firefighter Combat Challenge, World Championship was held. I was there to cheer for the 5-man relay team from the Fire Department at Artesia, NM. They are a small team from a small town in the New Mexico desert. At the regional competition, they were a surprise qualifier for the final World Championship. They were the first team from Artesia to ever qualify for the “Olympics Of Firefighting”. The team members are: Jeffrey Bishop, Toby Bratcher, Alfredo Garcia, Kyle Luginbyhl, and Marcus Teets. The competitors race against the clock as they simulate real-life firefighting by performing five tasks including climbing a 5 story tower, hoisting fire hoses, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb dummy. They did not win the championship but they had a new personal best time and they beat a lot of other teams.
After watching the competition, I have new respect for firemen. The physical demands of their profession are extraordinary. Their desire to save lives and property are commendable. They are heroes with strong bodies and trained minds who are ready to save you. Besides all of that, they are very nice people. I am proud to be the father of a firefighter. It is nice to know that there are people in this world who are trying to help others!
I second Harry's motion. We are blessed by these folks.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, though, who was there as the 175 pound dummy.
TsarPat (Just back from NYC where I did not see any fires but plenty of dummies)