"The City of Greater Sudbury is very proud our Firefighters' Combat Challenge Team," said Mayor John Rodriguez. "While every firefighter on our force demonstrates outstanding commitment on a daily basis, the success of the team in this year's national championship has put us on the map. Our firefighters have proven they are among the best in Canada."

Approximately 500 career and volunteer firefighters from across the country competed in the five physically gruelling challenges.

Greater Sudbury firefighter Jim Kolar is the new world record holder and Canadian champion in the over age 45 individual category with a time of 1:29.

Kolar and fellow firefighter Richard Landry won second place in the over age 40 two-man relay. This was an especially gratifying win, as Landry was recovering from an injury for most of the summer.

A newcomer to Greater Sudbury Fire Services, Eric Pichette put in an exceptional first year showing with a time of 1:27, finishing 20th in the overall men's individual category and winning second place in the rookie of the year category. Pichette joined the local force in July.

Greater Sudbury's five-man relay team came in with a final score of 1:13, only seven seconds away from the winning score of 1:06.

When all points were tallied, Greater Sudbury's Combat Challenge Team finished ninth out of a field of 28 teams.

"I am extremely proud of the team and of Greater Sudbury firefighters who are dedicated to achieving their full potential," said Greater Sudbury Fire Chief Donald Donaldson. "Our firefighters train on their own time and do their own fundraising for travel expenses. Their spirit of competitiveness has raised the overall fitness level of the force and has been a tremendous morale booster."

The Firefighter Combat Challenge was developed to showcase physical fitness and has been described as "the toughest two minutes in sports". Individuals and teams compete against the clock in five consecutive events wearing full firefighting gear. Firefighters competing in the individual event must also wear a self-contained breathing apparatus.

Competitors must carry a 42 lb. hose roll up five flights of stairs, the equivalent to a five storey building, while wearing firefighting gear weighing approximately 60 lbs. The hose must be accurately deposited into a container on the top floor.

After depositing the hose roll, competitors must then hoist a 45 lb rolled hose line approximately 50 feet to the top of the platform. Once the second hose roll is deposited in the container, competitors descend from the platform, and they must touch every step on the way down.

Using a Keiser Force Machine (a chopping simulator), competitors drive a 165 lb steel beam a horizontal distance of five feet using a shot mallet. This event simulates using an axe to chop holes in a roof.

Competitors drag a 300 lb charged hose line approximately 140 feet and then hit a target with a water stream.

After dropping the charged hose, competitors drag a 175 lb rescue mannequin backwards over a distance of 100 ft. Grasping the mannequin by its clothing or appendages is not permitted.

Time stops when the competitor and the mannequin completely cross the finish line. All competitors must perform the Combat Challenge in less than seven minutes. Failure to do so results in the competitor being disqualified and removed from the course.

"The Firefighters' Combat Challenge is like the Olympics for firefighters," said Chief Donaldson. "It gives firefighters a secure feeling knowing their physical limits when on active duty. The citizens we serve are the real winners."

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Chief Donald Donaldson,
Greater Sudbury Fire Services, 674-4455, ext. 2770