By Megan Foucht and Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 Staff
 Photo courtesy of FCC Brandon Cunningham on his way to winning the event in Las Vegas. FireRescue1 Slideshow |
It’s billed as the “toughest two minutes in sport” and is one of the most demanding tests of strength and skill the fire service has to offer.
Over the past few months, thousands of firefighters from roughly 600 U.S. and Canadian municipal fire departments have been battling it out in the regional heats of the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge.
The 2007 competition concluded last week with the World Challenge XVI in Las Vegas, where the leading regional competitors came up against opponents from across the world, including Germany, South Africa and New Zealand.
Although there were various sections, including men’s, women’s and over 50s divisions, all of the winners are united in one respect: the hope that the competition can raise awareness of firefighter fitness.
“I think this is a good, positive thing that contributes to actually getting firefighters involved in fitness and raises awareness of the need to be fit,” said Brandon Cunningham, a 27-year-old firefighter from Fort Gordon, Ga., Fire Department. Cunningham triumphed in the men’s division for the second year running.
Challenge President Paul Davis, who has been involved in the program since its inception in the early 70s, said this year was possibly the biggest yet for the event.
The world finals alone hosted more than 700 firefighters and were watched by 25,000 fans on Fremont Street at the epicenter of Vegas’ world-famous strip. Overhead, a huge screen broadcast the firefighters competing in their events to the thousands on the street.
Davis said the success of the annual event can be attributed as much to the camaraderie of the participants as the competition itself.
“There were absolutely incredible friendships forged,” Davis said. “This is a huge fraternity. It transcends the athletic aspect. Most people come for the camaraderie and it keeps bringing them back.”
Cunningham, who has been a firefighter for five years, echoed Davis’ views.
“The camaraderie is a huge part of it,” he said. “It’s something you wouldn’t see in any other sport; the guys you’re competing against are the same ones you’re cheering on.”
For women’s champion Stacy Billapando, the 2007 event marked her first title win after consecutive top three finishes over the past six years.
Billapando, 44, an 11-year veteran of the Colorado Springs, Co., Fire Department, said she had been training up to seven days a week in the months leading up to the competition.
 Photo Michael Billapando Stacy Billapando doing the hose pull at an earlier competition. |
“It’s the same as being a firefighter — you need a mental toughness for this competition,” she said.
“Like firefighting, you can’t just down your tools and walk away if it gets too tough.”
One of the biggest cheers at the event was reserved for Pennsylvania’s York City firefighter Mike Anderson and Erie Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Eicher, who won the tandem event in the 50-plus age division.
The pair could only finish second last year when Anderson fell while running the course, losing precious time in the process. This time, there were no mistakes.
Eicher, who has been with the Erie Fire Department for 29 years, said he hoped his efforts in the competition will help spur other firefighters in his department and across the country to boost their fitness levels.
“A lot of the younger guys do look at me and say, ‘Wow, if he can do this, why can’t I?’ Eicher said.
“We had 24 firefighters from our department take part a few years back, and they all wanted to beat the old guy. I hope I can be the measuring stick for their fitness levels.”