Information

About Us

In 1997, Evansville Fire Department began developing a team to compete in the Firefighter Combat Challenge. At first it was just a few friends “exploring an interesting contest” but as they competed, they soon realized that the tasks of fighting a house fire had changed. After training for the Firefighter Combat Challenge, fire ground activities had become easier than before and therefore safer. Each year since 1997, Evansville has had a team or representative compete in many FFCC regional, national and/or world competitions.
In 2000 the team came together to start planning a tighter team structure which set the groundwork to host our own Regional Challenge. This resulted in the below stated Mission Statement, strategies for recruiting new members and sharing of training tips. The Mission statement was intended to inform individuals about how the team members are improving and strengthening as firefighters as well as competitors. Since then approximately 90% of the team members have gone on to be promoted to the officer level.
In 2004, after much effort by team captain, Captain Mike Connelly, Evansville was able to host its very first FFCC Regional competition. As team members, we were finally able to “sleep in their own beds” before a competition and play host to some of the friends that we have met through out the competitions in which we have attended.

-Mission Statement-

We strive to develop the physical and mental skills needed for our jobs as Evansville area firefighters, to meet the demands for emergency services and the hazardous conditions under which we often operate, to provide all firefighters mental support and encouragement and to showcase this bond to the community for which we serve.

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The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge

Wearing "full bunker gear" and the SCOTT Air-Pak breathing apparatus, pairs of competitors simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the 5-storey tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. "victim" as they race against themselves, their opponent and the clock.

EVENT 1 High Rise Pack Carry

The competition starts at the base of the tower. The hose pack cannot be touched before the start. The 3" (7.62cm) hose load and cover (42 lb.; 19kg) may be carried in any manner and must be deposited into the container on the top floor with no part of the pack touching the deck. A 2-second penalty will be assessed for this infraction. The hose load must stay on the top platform. The competitor is disqualified if the high-rise pack falls off the top of the tower. The handrails may be used in climbing the tower. Steps may be taken in multiples on the way up.

EVENT 2 Hose Hoist

A 42-lb. (19kg) donut roll of large diameter hose and 5/8" (16mm) kern mantle rope is used for this event. The competitor is not allowed to stand on anything other than the top platform while hoisting. The evolution is complete when the roll clears the railing at the top of the tower and is placed in the container on the top floor. The donut roll must ascend; loss of control (i.e., slippage of more than one balcony) will result in disqualification. Proper placement is on, or in the container with no part of the donut touching the deck. A 2-second penalty will be assessed for this infraction. The donut roll must stay on the top platform. Disqualification results with any loss of control of the donut roll, including falling off the tower, rolling down the stairs or interfering with the adjacent competitor. This task must be completed before 3 minutes has elapsed or a disqualification will result. A fallen donut roll may not be retrieved. Descending the tower, every step must be contacted and the handrail grasped. Failure to touch each step on the descent will result in a 2-second penalty per infraction.

EVENT 3 Forcible Entry

The forcible entry evolution utilizes the Keiser Force Machine (a chopping simulator). Using the 9-lb. (4kg) shot mallet provided, the competitor must drive the sled; a 160-lb. (72.5kg) steel beam a horizontal distance of 5-ft. (1.5m) Pushing, raking or hooking the beam is not allowed; only the head of the mallet is allowed to strike the beam. The handle must not come in contact with the beam at any time. The upper edge of the beam will be covered with pressure sensitive material, making infractions visible by a mark on the top edge of the beam. A 5-second penalty is assessed for each infraction after the first handle strike. Both hands must be above the tape mark on the handle (12-in. [30.5cm] from the top [head] end) at the point of impact. A 2-second penalty is assessed for every inch (2.5cm) or fraction of each inch that the sled is short of the end of the tray. Any part of the hammer must be placed on the designated 3'x4' (84xmx121cm) mat. A 2-second penalty is assessed for this infraction.

EVENT 4 Hose Advance

The competitor must negotiate the 140' (42.6m) slalom course without missing or knocking over any delineator; doing so will result in a 5-second penalty for each infraction. The competitor must pick up the nozzle end of the 1 3/4"; (4.45cm) charged hose line, forward of the taped stripe 6' (1.8m) from the nozzle and drag it a distance of 75-ft (22.8m). Once the nozzle penetrates the swinging doors (i.e., crosses the threshold 75-ft. distant), the competitor opens the nozzle, hits the target with the water stream, shuts down the nozzle and places the nozzle on the pavement. A failure to advance the hose a distance of 75’ will result in a 10-second penalty. The nozzle must not be opened before engaging the swinging doors. A 2-second penalty will be assessed for this violation. If the nozzle is not shut before it is placed down, the competitor must go back and close it. If the Course Staff is required to shut off the nozzle, a 5-second penalty will be assessed. If the nozzle opens after hitting the ground, there is no penalty and the competitor can continue to the victim rescue evolution.

EVENT 5 Victim Rescue

A 175-lb. (79.4kg) Simulaids, Inc., Rescue Randy® mannequin must be lifted and dragged backwards a distance of 100-ft (30.5m). Carrying the dummy is not permitted. If any competitor crosses the course center delineator (i.e., goes out of lane), a 5- second penalty will be assessed. Any contact with the opposing competitor will result in disqualification. The mannequin must not be grasped by its clothing or appendages. Time stops when the competitor and victim completely cross the finish line. The Course Marshal, at his sole discretion, may stop any competitor who in the official's opinion creates or is in a dangerous, unsafe or stressful condition.

Firefighter Combat Challenge Penalties & Disqualifications Summarized...

Penalties
• High Rise Hose Pack Placement (in box): 2 seconds
• Donut Roll Placement: 2 seconds
• Skipped Step (tower descent): 2 seconds
• Keiser Force Machine Foul: 5 seconds per mis-strike
• Failure to finish Forcible Entry: 2 seconds per inch or fraction
• Hammer Placement: 2 seconds
• Knocking over or missing delineator: 5 seconds per occurrence
• Failure to Advance Hose 75-ft.: 10 seconds
• Early nozzle activation: 2 seconds
• Failure to Activate Target: 10 seconds
• Out of Lane: 5 seconds per occurrence

Disqualification
• Failure to show
• Double false-start
• Loss of object from tower
• Skipped event
• Disrupting the competition
• Unsportsmanlike behavior
• Interference on the course
• Unauthorized personnel on the course
• Failure to finish in 6 minutes