Academy firefighters begin world competition

  • Published
  • By John Van Winkle
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., --  Air Force Academy firefighters are competing on the world stage this week at the World Firefighter Combat Challenge XX.

The competition, which began Monday and continues through Saturday, tests firefighters' skill, fitness, grit and teamwork against the clock.

A number of Air Force teams are competing, including teams from F.E Warren Air Force Base Wyo.; Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; Whiteman AFB, Mo.; and Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; as well as teams from Canadian Forces and a joint team from the Kaiserslautern military community in Germany. Also competing are several teams from the Air Force Academy, including a combined team from the Colorado Springs and Air Force Academy fire departments.

The Air Force Academy Fire Department has been a contender at these world games for the past six years, and holds several world records and world titles, including the 2010 women's team trophy.

But trophies aren't the real benefit of training for and competing in the firefighter combat challenge, said Air Force Academy fire chief Ernst Piercy.

"The firefighter combat challenge brings me three things," Piercy said. "First and foremost, it provides an opportunity for our firefighters to get into superb physical condition. So that's a fantastic and superb benefit."

"Another benefit is every single stage of this event simulates a firefighting activity, whether it's hoisting a hose, or chopping a door open or dragging a hose or rescuing a victim. All of these things are things we'd expect them to do on a fire ground.

"The third thing is how tight-knit the group becomes and the phenomenal teamwork it brings. It's not just the firefighters who are competing, but also back at the fire stations. They're watching this live on the internet as its streaming and they're texting us back saying how great we're doing. The synergy that its really brought to our organization is fantastic."

To follow the Academy, Air Force and Colorado Springs firefighters competing at the World Firefighter Combat Challenge XX, visit http://livestream.com/firefightercombatchallenge.