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Richard Ellis / Getty Images Contributor
Two firefighters slam a sledgehammer into a steel beam in the Firefighter Combat Challenge on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011.
Richard Ellis / Getty Images Contributor
Racing neck and neck two firefighters drags a 175-pound mannequin backwards on Friday.
Richard Ellis / Getty Images Contributor
A firefighter aims a fire hose at a target on Friday.
Richard Ellis / Getty Images Contributor
Two firefighters hoist a 42-pound fire hose up six stories on Friday.
The annual Firefighter Combat Challenge final attracts hundreds of firefighters from around U.S. and Canada and also countries around the world including New Zealand, Germany, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa.
In the five-day event, pairs of firefighters in full gear race head-to-head in a linked series of five tasks simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting. The tasks includes the 5-story tower climb, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-size - 175 lb. "victim." The firefighters race against themselves, their opponents and the clock.
FireFighter Combat Challenge 2011 by kawasakikx250ff from YouTube.com
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I wonder how much of this is paid for by taxpayers under the guise of "training?"
I think it is great for everyone out there to see what our volunteers do each and every day, and next time it is take for granted how well they do their job, maybe someone will stop and think about how hard they work...
Hey, rather they spend tax dollars like this than keeping people in the flush to live on welfare? Personally, they could kick alot of people that are "career" welfare collectors out of the system and use those dollars for stuff like fire fighters and police. Not to mention those that really need the help.
Every penny, I hope. I want my firefighters to know how to do their job. And if that means I put them on a plane to Myrtle Beach, so be it.
@TACOMATTATA What do you mean volunteers? Most firefighters are employed firefighters by profession and get paid accordingly.
not even close volunteers make up almost 75% of firefighters
Actually over 73% of firefighters in this country are volunteer. Think about it, the only paid firefighters are those employed by cities, what about rural towns, do you think they get paid? Most municipalities and small towns cannot afford to pay their firefighters. I would know seeing as I am a volunteer firefighter.
Thanks for presenting the facts TJ. Statements like TACOMATTATA made shows how easy, lies, and misinformation are spread, that's why it's always good for someone to present people like that with facts.
As a retired (paid) firefighter myself, thanks for your service TJ!!
I know firefighters. They tell me what goes on. It's no different than any other profession. Firefighters run the spectrum from good to bad. Private fire departments would be much more efficient and save taxpayers a lot of money. 1 example. A local FD got money from the Bush admin. after 9-11 to be used to improve safety in their community. They used it to put in a gym. I have to pay my own gym fees. So all you Firemen and Cops, etc. Quit pretending you're so important, you're paid to do a job. Sometimes it's dangerous. You chose the career so you have no reason to cry.
Why do the dummies in the dead man drag event look like Kevin Bacon?
Didn't you know? That IS Kevin Bacon, direct descendent of Sir Francis Bacon, and actually twins, which few know!
That's not Kevin Bacon. It's the Six Million Dollar Man!
It's probably because he weighs more then a normal man with all those bionic limbs. It's nice to see he found work after the fall of the USSR.
That couldn't be Lee Majors. The dummies have much better personalities.
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See what is happening, if the precedence hasn't already been set, we are find avenues to be competitive about everything. I have tremendous mixed emotions about this and many other things. If this were that important, or we wanted to be internationally acclaimed why not include it on the events list for the Olympics? This is another waste of time