Wednesday, April 7, 2010

2010 Is Upon Us!

It was 20 years ago this month that the first ever Firefighter Combat Challenge was held at the University of Maryland’s Fire Rescue Institute in College Park. WTOP, the local CBS affiliate covered the event and the five municipalities that fielded teams. The winning time: 3:40!: posted by Lloyd Jackson of Prince William (VA) County. Just about everyone who participated has retired. Fire Chief magazine devoted a four page story and several full page color shots. The news piece was the springboard for DuPont to step up and fund our first national tour in 1992. FETN covered our World Challenge I the next year in Anaheim, CA, coincidental with the IAFC’s annual meeting. It’s sometime hard to believe what’s happened in the interim. All of the props from the first year would have easily fit into the back of a pickup truck. This season, we’re rolling out four towed trailers and a brand new drag-race style Christmas tree starting system. The fun goes on and on. New people and new places add to the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest people who walk on the face of this planet. Thanks for playing!