“Battle For The Bucket” Firefighters Challenge

Tuesday, August 16th 2023

Location At Dewey Strange Arena Complex (Horse Arena)

Individual Competition and Team Competition

**Overall Guidelines**

This competitive challenge is comprised of a team and individual competition. It is anticipated that each of the competitions will last approximately 90 minutes each.
Each Fire Department may enter one or more teams comprised of four unique members in the team competition.
Any Fire Department may enter as many of their respective members into the individual competition as they desire.
Junior firefighters are eligible, as long as they meet all the other requirements, with approval of their Fire Chief.
Safety will be maintained on the course at all times and the decisions of the safety observer are final .
The time clock will serve as the official and final time for each event. In the event the time clock fails to operate, winners will be selected by the Master of Ceremony. The time clock will count to within 1/10 of a second .A hand–held time clock will serve as the back–up by the Chief Safety Officer.
Each competitor may wear any type of clothing desired, but must include pants , shorts, FD T-shirt, shoes and socks when they begin the competition.

**Competing Team Requirements**

Must be a functioning Fire Department located within the United States.
Must enter four firefighters into the competitions that are members in good standing with at least one consecutive year on the department.
Bring their full set of Bunker Gear and SCBA in which to compete.
The Fire Chief or designee will at test that each competing firefighter is physically fit to perform the challenge and has current approved complete turnout gear, SCBA, and workers compensation insurance

**Individual Firefighter**

Requirements a firefighter with at least one consecutive year of departmental service within United States.
Medically approved by their Chief Officer(or ranking officer) for participation .
Bring their full set of Bunker Gear and SCBA in which to compete.
Individually acknowledged they are prepared to finish the challenge on the day of competition.
Sign an individual liability waiver before completing.

**Individual Competition**

Any firefighters from each department may enter this competition-no limit.

**Station#1 (Donning Gear and SCBA)**

The time clock will begin for both competing individuals simultaneously. Each competitor starts in a similar level of pre-dress (pants, shorts, shoes, socks ,FD t-shirt) from the far north entrance to the area and carry all gear and SCBA to the first station. Once arriving they must don full bunker gear, including boots, pants ,coats and hood ,gloves , helmet and SCBA. Due to safety issue and fairness, permission to move on to Station #2 will only be granted once safety officer has verified the safe and proper Donning of the bunker gear and SCBA.

**Station #2 (Tractor Tire Flip)**

The individual will proceed to a large tractor tire (approximately 150 pounds) located near the first station. The firefighter will flip the tractor tire end over end, using energy from legs, not back and wearing full gear breathing SCBA. They shall flip the tire until they reach a cone, which is located 50′ from the beginning point. The firefighter is not complete until the entire tractor tire is past the cone.

**Station #3 (Dummy Drag)**

Upon successful completion, the firefighter will proceed to a dummy near the end of the previous station. The individual firefighter will drag the dummy 75′ past a cone, indicating the end of the station. The firefighter is not complete until the ENTIRE dummy is past the cone. During this station the firefighter shall be wearing all bunker gear and breathing SCBA.

*”Station #4 (Hose Roll)**

Upon successful completion, the firefighter will roll a 50′ section of 1 3/4″ hose-line . For this station the firefighter will use a single roll pattern with a forward lay to successfully roll the hose. The firefighter must be properly wearing full gear and breathing, SCBA. The station is not complete until the safety officer deems the hose is properly rolled.

**Station #5 (Serpentine/Hose Carry)**

Upon completion of the hose roll, firefighter will carry the rolled hose on shoulder with no part of the hose touching the ground, while weaving through a series of 4 cones spaced 6′ feet apart. Firefighter must begin from the outside of the first cone, farthest from the Ceremony Platform and concluding with laying the rolled hose down on the ground past the cone.

**Station #6 (Bucket Brigade)**

Upon successful completion of the serpentine/hose carry, the competitor will walk to a portable tank located near the center of the area. Two 5 gallon buckets will be located on each side of the portable tank. The portable tank will be mostly full of water. While wearing full turn-out gear and breathing SCBA, the competitor will fill a 55 gallon to at least the fill line (approximately 25 gallons), which is located 30 feet from the portable tank. Upon completion of Station #6 the competitor will move back to the start/finish line. The event clock will be stopped once they clear this line. The competitor with the quickest time will be declared the winner.

Team Competition Rules

Each County Department may enter a team of four Firefighters into the event.

**Station #1 (Team Serpentine)**

At the beginning of Station#1 the time clock will begin for both competing teams simultaneously. Upon beginning course, Firefighters will weave through a series of 6 cones which will be off-set in a zig-zag pattern throughout the length of the course while carrying the bucker gear. Firefighters must begin the course from the outside of the first cone ,farthest from the Ceremony Platform and conclude at the Gear Donning Station. All team members must carry all gear and air-pack as they travel through this station. Gear may be in gear bags or held in the hands of the competitors ,no articles may be worn, air-pack maybe carried with one shoulder strap only. All team members must have completed Team Serpentine prior to any member beginning Station #2.

**Station#2 (Donning Gear and SCBA)**

At the beginning of Station#2, each competitor starts in a similar level of pre-dress (pants ,Shorts shoes, socks, FD t-shirt)and must don full bunker gear, including boots ,pants ,coat, and hood, gloves ,helmet with neck strap and SCBA. Due to safety issues and fairness, permission to move on to station #3 will only be granted once the safety officer has verified the safe and proper donning of bunker gear and SCBA of all four team members.

**Station #3 (Deploying an attack hose- line)**

Upon successful completion of Station#2 all four team Firefighters, the team will move toward the fire engine and stretch a 200′ cross-lay of 1 3/4″ hose toward a cone approximately 150′ from the fire engine. Once the line is stretched, the team will change the line and flow water from the nozzle until the safety officer sees the water flow and stops them. Engines will be provided with motor already running. The engineer of the apparatus will activate the pump and charge the line upon notification from the team that the line is stretched and ready for water. A minimum of two team members must be holding the hose within 10 feet of the nozzle when the line is ordered charged by the officer. Team members shall be breathing SCBA during this entire station. The safety officer will allow the team to proceed to Station #4 only upon safe and successful completion of deploying the hose- line with bunker gear and SCBA operational.

**Station #4 (Connecting a supply hose to the water source)**

The team will move back to the engine and deploy 200′ of three inch supply hose from the rear and manually move the hose back to cone to simulate connection to a municipal fire hydrant. The Firefighters closest to the engine will disconnect the supply line at the back of the apparatus and make the connection to the intake on the engine. Participants may breathe SCBA for brief period to clear fog from mask, if necessary!.

**Station #5 (Bucket Brigade)**

Upon successful completion of the water source station, the team will move to a drop tank located near the center of the arena. 5 gallon buckets (4 per team) will be located on each side of the portable tank. The portable tank will be mostly full of water. While wearing full turnout gear and SCBA the team will fill a 55 gallon barrel to at least the fill line (approximately 25 gallons),which is located approximately 30 feet from the portable tank. Teams must use the side of the tank, marked with flagging tape to fill buckets. Upon completion of Station#5 teams must move as a team across arena back to the finish line. The last person from the team to cross finish line will stop the clock. The team with the quickest time will be declared the winner.