AFA Firefighters Win World Title
Air Force Academy Firefighters are World Champions after winning in multiple categories at the World Firefighter Combat Challenge in Las Vegas.
The challenge put firefighters from all over the World in an obstacle course that includes swinging a sledge hammer, carrying a fire hose up a six story building and dragging a 170-lb dummy 106 ft.
Academy Firefighters say the challenge not only keeps them in good physical shape, they also get a chance to meet some of the surrounding departments whom they may be called in to assist some day. “Black Forest, Larkspur, Monument, those departments; West Metro, World Champions last year, they come down and train with us all the time so when we go to mutual aid responses and see those guys, it’s really good to have that connection with a guy you’ve seen and you know he works hard and you know his level and he knows yours,” says Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Kraft.
“When it comes to the competition and you relay it to real World aspects, take for example the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires; wild land fires for example, you’re out there for a really long time, your physical condition is one of those things that you have no doubts about,” says Captain Roy Dalton.
The contest also stresses safety under pressure. Air Force Academy Firefighters assisted in both the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires without any injuries to anyone in the department.
