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(media correspondents, reporters and commentators are encouraged to borrow liberally from the text below - attribution not required. )

"Where's the Fire?" Will be the likely question heard wherever the Firefighter Combat Challenge is being held. Hundreds of firefighters organized by departmental teams and representing the best of the bravest, will battle head to head against themselves and the clock for high honors at the Challenge.

Mission Statement
The Challenge is an intense, spirited competition and seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession's rigors to our stakeholders- the citizens who support their local departments. The Challenge has won high accolades 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.

The Event
Wearing "full bunker gear" and a Scott breathing apparatus (SCBA), pairs of 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 lb. 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; and finally, competitors drag a life sized, 175 lb. "victim" a distance of 100 feet to the finish line.

Scoring
Each member of a three-to-five-person team performs the standard evolutions against the clock, with the top three individual times added together to yield a team total. Other categories include male, female, over 40, over 50, and the Streamlight Relays. Qualifiers (male<2:00, female<6:00, over 40<3:00, over 50<4:45, team<7:00, male relay<2:00, female relay<3:00) will advance to the World Championships held each year at a different location.

Other categories include a Best Chief division recognized only at the World Championships. The current record time of 1:19.02 is held by Bob Russell of Overland Park Fire Department (WCX, Memphis, TN, 2001)!

Sponsorship
The Challenge is supported by over 30 companies and organizations that make a market in providing fire service related equipment and services. Scott Aviation (Scott Health & Safety), of Monroe, NC, the world's leading manufacturer of self-contained breathing apparatus, is the title sponsor.

Background and History
The Firefighter Combat Challenge is the only nationally televised (ESPN) sports event that has it roots in a federally-funded research grant. While serving on the faculty at the University of Maryland’s College of Health and Human Performance, Dr. Davis received funding from the US Fire Administration to develop a job-related physical ability test. Dr. Davis, a former firefighter and the President of On Target Challenge, Inc., has conducted much of the published research on the physiology of firefighting and is widely recognized as the nation's leading authority on public safety fitness and employment issues. The event is managed by On Target Challenge, Inc. Dr. Davis is available for interviews when present, or via telephone at any other time.

Hosting Information
The Challenge can be held on one or two-days. The season typically lasts from April until November but is subject to change. For information on bringing the Challenge to your city, please contact Ashley Kelly at 301-421-4433 ext 101 or at this email.