Introducing the New and Improved Lion Forum

Providing our Challenge community with a forum for posting relevant and productive information has suffered from a lack of oversight and management. We’re fixing all of that with the addition of Chuck Benslay as the Forum Manager. His bio follows...

Chuck Benslay

Chuck Benslay has been a firefighter in the Indianapolis area since 1993.  He began as a volunteer firefighter for the Warren Township Volunteer Fire Department on the East side of Indianapolis.  He was hired by the Lawrence Township Fire Department in 1997.  Chuck served Lawrence Township as the Department’s Haz-Mat Coordinator and Drug Program Manager for several years.  Chuck was also a member of Indiana Task Force One, a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team where he spent several days in Biloxi and Gulfport Mississippi during hurricane Katrina in 2005.  He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2006 and assigned to an Engine Company in the Castleton area of Indianapolis.  Chuck also served a year in LTFD’s Education and Safety Division where he trained recruits and firefighters in Haz-Mat, Firefighting and Special Operations.  In 2011 the Lawrence Township Fire Department merged with the Indianapolis Fire Department.  Chuck now serves as a Private on an Engine Company and Swift Water Team in the Geist area of Indianapolis.  Chuck works part-time as a website developer and IT specialist.

Chuck was married to his lovely wife Laura in 2001.  Between the two of them, they have 3 children in their early 20’s and 1 grandson.  In their free time, they enjoy hiking and camping. 

Chuck first competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge in 1998 and has a PR of 2:35 which he still hopes to beat some day.

After competing in this year’s Chicago area event, Chuck wanted to provide a perspective that I felt to be missing...that of the “typical” (if there is such an animal) firefighter who had first participated many years ago and was now returning to the competition after an extended absence. I feel that there needs to be a mentor who understands the daunting task of starting from scratch. 

You’ll note the new graphic and hyperlink on the home page, leading to Chuck’s Corner. We hope that you’ll visit often and feel free to express your insights and opinions on the wide-ranging subjects that make the Challenge all that it is. We wish to thank our partner Lion for their continued support of the North American fire service.