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The Challenge is a true embodiment of the essence of firefighting—an urgent race against the firefighter’s most mortal enemy: Time.
Considering that a fire doubles in size every 90 seconds, firefighters are forced to routinely operate in a realm of split-second decision making, often with people’s lives hanging in the balance. At the heart of the Challenge lies the physical preparedness to respond to the rigorous demands of instantaneous lifesaving judgments.
The Challenge was created as a spirited, friendly competition to highlight the level of fitness required to perform the job, demonstrate to the outside world the nature of the job and showcase the kind of people who place themselves in harm’s way to protect life and property.
The Challenge has its roots in a university-based research study funded by the U.S. Fire Administration. Dr. Paul Davis, then a faculty member at the University of Maryland, and several colleagues were approached by members of the fire service with a mandate to design a test that could be used to identify qualified applicants. After a year of research and analysis, five tasks highly reminiscent of actual fire-scene activities were deemed the most applicable for a criterion task test. This physical ability test ultimately evolved into the origin of the Challenge.
Carrying heavy objects is a daily requirement of firefighters. The first event, the 45-lb hose pack carry, is a common task in high-rise buildings. Elevators are potentially dangerous, so all firefighters must be prepared to climb stairs with their equipment.
The hose hoist is representative of those life-urgent tasks that employ ropes. Firefighters may be required to use ropes in such highly critical tasks as belaying or effecting a water, cave-in, or confined space rescue.
Forcible entry is widely practiced, whether it is to gain access to a closed building or opening the roof of a burning house. The biomechanics of the Keiser Force Machine station are nearly identical to a host of other hand-tool evolution’s that require a combination of upper body strength and power.
The fourth event, dragging a charged hoseline, is a common practice at the scene of a fire. And the last task, rescuing a victim, often proves the most difficult obstacle that any firefighter is expected to perform. One of a firefighter’s most critical and essential functions is to be capable of effecting the rescue of a partner.
While a good time is anything under 5 minutes, some competitors can actually perform the Challenge in less than 2 minutes!!
Recently, the Challenge made a stop in Irving (Dallas), Texas. We were lucky enough to be able to attend such an incredible show of true strength—as a brotherhood, as well as physical and mental strength. Although teams were competing against each other and the clock, if one firefighter began to slow down and seemed to be struggling, everyone cheered him or her on. There are many different categories—individual men and women, teams, over 40 and over 50 categories. One of the females in the over 40 category was Jan Wesson with the Austin, Texas Fire Department. Jan has been with Austin Fire Department for 13 years, and this was her second Challenge season. Jan placed 117^th overall with a time of 4:47.95. For a forty year old woman, that is great! Another Challenge competitor we spoke with was Carl Peak. Carl is an Engineer with the Springfield, MO fire department. This was his first Challenge, and he finished 116^th overall with a time of 4:13.17! Why is that so great? Because Carl is 52 years old! He has been a firefighter for 16 years, beginning as a Volunteer, spending the last 11 ½ years with the Springfield Fire Department. When asked why he chose to take his first Challenge at 52, he said "I wanted so see if I could do it". He said the hardest part of the Challenge for him was the final stage, dragging Rescue Randy ™. "By the time you get to it, you’re already tired". {Carl has also run in 16 marathons, finishing every one.}
While discussing the Challenge, and the difficulty involved with a group of Challengers, it seemed the two hardest parts for them was dragging Rescue Randy ™ 100 feet, and pulling the 45-lb hose roll up 5 stories and over the top. Hillary Higdon and Lisa Millman, both with Austin Fire Department, have been competing in the Challenge as long as they have been members of their department. Kimberly Smith of the Houston Fire Department (3 years) has also been involved as long as she has been a member. She has also participated in 2 National Challenges (as aired on ESPN) in Las Vegas.

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