The Martin County Fire Rescue Combat Challenge Team returned from the Southeast Regional Firefighter Challenge Classic in Hoover, Alabama, with some victories, and qualified for the national competition in September.
“We knew because we won that final race that we won the whole thing,” Fire Medic Melissa Reilly said about her relay placing first. “We celebrated on the course, but we were running against St. Lucie and we’re like rivals, in a good way. They always push us and we gave them high-fives and were cheering them on.”
The team of eight competed July 1-3. Firefighters can compete individually, in a tandem, or on a relay consisting of three to five people.
A first place award went to the female-under-40 team relay consisting of Carol Giuffrida, Hannah Abell, Melissa Reilly, Samantha Grimm, and Hannah Helton. For the female-under-40 tandem, first place went to Hannah Abell and Hannah Helton and second place went to Jessica Rosenberg and Samantha Grimm. First place for male 60-69 individual went to Chuck Gordils.
The Martin County Fire Rescue Combat Challenge Team qualified for the national competition in Oklahoma City in September.
The challenge starts with a firefighter carrying a 42-pound hose pack up the stairs of a five-story tower. Once at the top of the tower, the firefighter puts the hose pack into a box, then leans over the railing to hoist another 42-pound hose pack to the top of the tower and put that one in the box, too.
The firefighter then runs down the tower stairs to a Keiser machine. The machine involves them using a sledgehammer to move a steel beam 5 feet, as a way to mimic forcible entry.
Next, the firefighter has to zig-zag through cones before picking up a hose line and dragging it 75 feet, through swinging doors, and spraying water at a target to “put a fire out.”
Lastly, they drag a 165-pound rescue mannequin backwards 106 feet to the finish line.
The competition is streamed live, so the announcer reads off comments while people are going through the course. Capt. Chuck Gordils said he could hear his grandkids and firefighters back home cheering him on.
“You hear all of this as you’re doing it, and there’s such a power you get when you’re hearing ‘come on grandpa’,” Gordils said. “You know everybody’s watching so you’re going to put your best foot forward.”
Reilly said she feels like the mom of the group because she has been with Fire Rescue for 12 years and started doing the challenge in 2018. She’s taken on a mentor role to some of the newer firefighters.
“It has expanded to friendship, mentorship, even confiding in one another,” Reilly said. “We all get along really well. We’re very like-minded, there’s no drama. We’re there to compete, to push one another, to train, and have a good time.”
The team carpools to the airport, takes the same flights, shares rental cars, and stay in the same Airbnb. Reilly said some of the team bring their families, so knowing each other’s parents, spouses, and kids has deepened the friendships even more.
The sportsmanship does not stop with the Martin County team. Reilly and Gordils said talking to the other teams was part of the fun of the competition. Discussing different techniques and tips to help with the challenge is one of Reilly’s favorite memories from these competitions.
“You’re making life-long bonds with people when you meet them,” Gordils said. “Trading shirts and patches, it’s a lot of fellowship among the fire departments. Firefighters are the same everywhere.”
The team will be going to Oklahoma City Sept. 24-27 for the U.S. National Championships. The top people in each category at the nationals will head to the World Championship in Texas Oct. 20-25.
Olivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fire Rescue team wins in regional firefighter competition in Alabama