World firefighter health competitors kicks off in Fort Pierce

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FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The toughest two minutes in sport begin Tuesday in Fort Pierce.

The World Firefighter Combat Challenge Championship is designed to test and demonstrate the physical demands that a first aider entails.

“When it comes to life and property, and that’s what they do at work every day, that’s why the Firefighters Combat Challenge was created,” said Chris Dzadovsky, chairman of the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. “It’s about having fitness in the departments so they can actually do their job and save as many lives as possible.”

Scheduled November 2-6, the event is expected to generate more than $ 2 in economic impact, according to Dzadovsky.

Teams from around the world will compete against others, themselves and the clock.

“We have competitors from Argentina, Israel, Kuwait, Germany, Croatia as well as over half a dozen states, nearly a dozen states here in the United States,” said Rick Hatcher, Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism.

The challenge begins with climbing a five-story tower in a complete firefighter kit weighing about 45 pounds.

Once at the top, the firefighters have to pull a 45-pound hose tied to a rope out of the ground.

Then they run back to the bottom of the tower to hit the Keizer sledge with a sledgehammer and move it five feet.

Then the firefighters pull a loaded hose and shoot water through a series of doors.

The final step of the challenge is to pull a 175-pound life-size dummy over 100 feet.

A competition result is considered to be less than 90 seconds.

The St. Lucie County Fire District team hopes to defend the world title on their home turf.

In 2020 the team won the world title in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Participation in the event is free.