Spangdahlem participates in first Mosel Firefighter Combat Challenge

by Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/8/2014 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Spangdahlem firefighters hosted and participated in the first Mosel Firefighter Combat Challenge in Ediger-Eller, Germany, July 5-6, 2014.

"A firefighter combat challenge is where all the firefighters from across Europe come together to have fun and compete against each other," said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jason Theriault, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief. "We have firefighters here from Poland, Slovenia, Great Britain, Canada, France and three U.S. air bases in Europe."

The trial consisted of obstacles a firefighter could face while battling a real fire.

"The challenge simulates a structure fire, such as people going inside a building, hoisting up equipment, hammer blow, pulling hose and rescuing a victim," said Gerd Mueller, 52nd CES firefighter. "It's a task of five different events, combined into one sporting event."

Mueller was a key organizer of the challenge, which took more than six months to plan and execute.

"As firefighters, this is the best way to showcase our job to the public," Mueller said. "A lot of people think we just sit around waiting for a call, but we have to train and maintain our fitness and firefighting techniques."

The Spangdahlem firefighter team beat out firefighters from Ramstein Air Base and Royal Air Force Alconbury to take home the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa championship.

The challenge is known by firefighters as the toughest two minutes in sports.

"Pain!," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Scott Weeks, 52nd CES firefighter. "It's a pain like no other. You can train as hard as you can for this competition and you're still going to feel the same when you finish. Doesn't matter if you finish in four minutes or a minute and a half, you're going to feel the same."

To see the official results of the first Mosel Firefighter Combat Challenge visit www.firefighter-challenge-mosel.de/. For up-to-date information on upcoming firefighter combat challenges Spangdahlem is competing in, visit https://www.facebook.com/SpangdahlemFCC.