ACC firefighter joins world's elite at competition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. --  U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chastin Warner, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, joined the ranks of the world's elite firefighters by becoming a member of the Lion's Den at the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge world competition Nov. 15, 2011.

The challenge puts firefighters through a timed course of five back-to-back tasks, testing their basic job skills, technique and stamina.

"The firefighter combat challenge started in a lab with a FEMA study," said Dr. Paul Davis, event founder. That Federal Emergency Management Agency Study looked at methods to better train firefighters to battle a working fire, which resulted in the challenge's five events.

"The Firefighter Combat Challenge is a true testament to physical fitness. You can't just show up to the event and compete without being in top physical condition," said Staff Sgt. Steven Thomas, 20th CES firefighter and Shaw team captain.

Competitors start the race wearing the same gear they'd wear fighting a fire, which is about 60 pounds of equipment, Davis said. Firefighters climb a five-story tower carrying a 42-pound fire hose, then hoist another rope weighted with a 42-pound fire hose up five stories, while leaning over the top of the tower.

Then they sprint down the stairs and strike a 160-pound slab of steel with a sledge hammer, to move the slab 5 feet, simulating breaking a hole in a wall. Next, they weave down 100-foot path to grab a firehose and drag it 75 feet through a small door to hit a volleyball-sized target with a water stream.

"Then comes the killer event that we call the 'tractor pull,' which is taking the dummy 'Rescue Randy,' who weighs 175 pounds, and dragging him backwards 75 feet to safety at the end of the course," Davis said.

By running a time of 1 minute 39.35 seconds during what is hailed as the "toughest two minutes in sports," Warner was inducted into the Lion's Den. The minimum time it takes to make it into the distinct faction is 100 seconds, or 1 minute and 40 seconds, for those under the age of 40.

"Oh man, this feels great," said Warner. "If I had been a fraction of a second slower, I'd have been heartbroken."

"This is huge," said Thomas. "I've been competing in the challenge for a while. Very few make this. And this is only his second year competing. With our full team's individual times combined, we are 32 seconds faster than we were last year."

Other members of the Shaw Air Force Base team are Tech. Sgt. Travis Mills, Tech. Sgt. Marcus Hewett, Airman 1st Class Robert Dentici and Staff Sgt. Jesse Thompson.

Last year Shaw's five-man relays placed in the top 10 percent at the world competition and were short a man. This year they have their full team and their qualifying relay time was faster than last year's.

"Overall, I'd say we are on track for where we were last year," Thomas said. "I'm grateful that we have a great chief and commander who allow us to be able to do this."

The team's five-man relay will be competing Nov. 19 at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, S.C.