Firefighter Challenge at the Lebanon Area Fair offers premiums for first year

The Firefighter Challenge, a Lebanon Area Fair tradition, returns Sunday, July 26, for the first year offering cash prizes for fire companies in first, second, and third place.

The 10-year-plus running competition is open to fire companies in Lebanon and surrounding counties and includes a series of challenges testing the skills involved in emergency response.

Over the course of six challenges — the barrel bust, in which participants shoot water at a beer keg barrel; the quick dress, which tests firefighters’ ability to quickly and correctly equip gear; the coupling relay, a two-person hose-handling game; a cone toss; the bucket brigade, which calls back to the history of firefighting before hoses; and an intense obstacle course — fire companies will accrue points for first-, second-, and third-place finishes.

Organizer David Gill said that challenges are meant to build camaraderie between fire departments while testing skills they use in the field. Gill said the ability to get dressed quickly and properly (tested in the quick dress), for instance, can be the difference between life and death for a firefighter at a dangerous site.

“It can build relationships between two different firehouses, and you get to know people,” explained Gill, also a firefighter with Independent Fire Company in Lebanon.

At the end of the event, $750, $500, and $250 awards will be distributed to the fire companies in first, second, and third place, respectively. Funds will go to the companies, not individuals competing, said Gill.

There will also be a tug-of-war competition, though Gill said it is unclear whether this will be a separate event or part of the main challenge. A sponsor originally planned to provide premiums to winners, but Gill said the status of this depends on amount of pre-registrations and participants. So far, he said, not many companies have registered.

In addition to the portion of the event for fire companies, there will also be events for kids, split into ages 8-10 and 11-13. Kids can take part in a cone toss, tug of war, and obstacle course — though the kids’ obstacle course is far less challenging.

Gill said that the youth portion of the event allows kids to meet firefighters and potentially develop an interest in volunteering with a fire company later in life. With declining volunteer rates and increasing requirements for firefighters, Gill said, it is getting harder and harder for volunteer fire companies to serve the needs of their communities.

He said that, with a business to run and other life commitments, he may soon retire from firefighting in part due to the time required to stay trained. He hopes young people will be incentivized to volunteer and fill the shoes of older volunteers choosing to step back.

Gill explained that if the competition is ever canceled due to low fire company participation, he hopes to transition it into a competition for kids.

He thanked sponsors for their support of the event year after year, noting that the Lebanon Area Fair has provided reward funds this year.

Fire companies should email c.haldeman@makinthehit.org and dgill527@outlook.com to pre-register. Same day sign-ups are also welcomed, Gill said.