Second Annual Combat Challenge **NEW PICTURES**

 
By Chief Jonathan Riffe
May 18, 2012
 

This past Saturday May 12, 2012, the 2nd Annual Huntingtown VFD Combat Challenge occurred at the Huntingtown VFD. A total of 18 members participated in the strenuous exercise that challenged you both physically AND mentally. Many members have been practicing for months leading up to this event. The event ran from 0800-1200 hours. The quickest recorded time was Kyle Colleli with 3 minutes 18 seconds. Many thanks to everybody that participated in this event. This will continue to be an annual event

Station 1: Competitor will be fully dressed in PPE and breathing air. Time starts when you dismount Engine 61. Grab 150' standpipe rack, walk up two flights of stairs and back down. Drop the standpipe rack in designated location.

Station 2: Advance a charged 150' attack line 150' to designated area. There will be an object 45' away from designated area that you must knock off with stream of water.

Station 3: Extend and retract a 24' extension ladder hand over hand.

Station 4: Raise a 50' section donut roll (3" hose) up two flights of stairs via rope and lower the donut roll hand over hand.

Station 5: Crawl through a section of plastic pipe (tunnel) 40' long.

Station 6: Drag a 175 lb "victim" 50' to designated location.

Station 7: Strike a wooden railroad tie 10 times with a sledge hammer.

There were 4 Age Groups; 16-21 years old, 22-30 years old, 31-39 years old, 40+ years old. Out of each age group, there was a 1st, 2nd & 3rd place award. There were 4 leather helmets distributed for 1st Place, 4 Streamlight LED handlights distributed for 2nd place, 4 $50 gift cards to the Fire Store distributed. Every other participant received a personal tool kit for participating.

Many thanks to the evaluators/judges for their assistance: Jen Lankford (Chief St Leonard VFD), Jason Deale (Deputy Chief Prince Frederick VFD), Wayne Hardesty (Public Safety), Toby Sealey (Chief Dunkirk VFD), John Lyon (NDW Training Chief), Mike Mattison (Lieutenant Anne Arundel), Marty Sealey (Lieutenant Dunkirk VFD), Brent Lankford (Deputy Chief St Leonard VFD).

Extra thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary for handling breakfast, lunch and beverages during the entire event. Immediately following the Challenge, members drilled/burned in an acquired house on Dalrymple Road.

During the Challenge, County Commissioner Evan Slaughenhoupt attended the event. The BayNet Newspaper and Calvert Recorder were also in attendance. Pictures courtesy of Darwin Weigel (Calvert Recorder) and RCD Photography: http://www.rcdphotography.com