Topic: Firefighter Combat Challenge
Time Required: Two to Three Hours
Materials:
• PPE/SCBA (one set per participant)
• Traffic Cones (4 to 6 per team depending on group size)
• Water Sources (need to have two to three charged lines either from hydrant or engines)
• Hose – 1 sections 50’ per team
• Wood signs – 1 per team (to be knocked over with charged handline)
• Ladders – 36’ extension per team
• 1 Pennant Per Team and Tape
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Outside Stairs
• 50’ to 100’ rope – 3 sections per team
• Forcible Entry Tools (Haligan Bar, etc.) or smoke ejectors – 1 per team
• Pike Poles – 1 per team
• 1 room and contents to set up an area for salvage operations per team
• Salvage Covers – 1 per team
• Goals – one per team (can create using PVC pipe, old 2x4’s, etc.
• Large playing field – clear of tripping/falling hazards, etc.
• Heavily weighted ball
• Barrier tape, spray paint, etc. to outline playing field
• Layout Plans as Provided
• Officers to Observe and Act as Judges
• Tape Measure
References:
• Essentials of Firefighting, 4th Edition, IFSTA
Preparation
Motivation: NOTE: There are two motivations for this lesson. One motivation is for the officers, and the second for the participants.
Officers: Every fire department knows that a productive training schedule is needed. This training should be based on a needs assessment, and this drill will help to identify areas that personnel need additional training. Officers need to actively participate by observing behaviors and developing a training schedule based on those observations.
Participants: Teamwork on the fireground is essential to a good outcome. Members need to be able to work together to accomplish tasks that are assigned in a timely manner in a safe and correct manner. This drill will help to stress the importance of teamwork, the benefit of using correct procedures, and the need to do tasks in an expedient manner.
Objective (SPO) 1-1:
Given a set of tasks, the firefighter team will demonstrate knowledge of a variety of basic skills through participation in a combat style challenge, so that
skills are consistent with the current IFSTA text in use and with jurisdictional protocols.
Overview:
Tasks Include:
• Dressing in Full PPE and SCBA
• Charging a Line and Advancing Through a Serpentine
• Throwing, Climbing, and Using Extension Ladders
• Hoisting Tools/Equipment Using Utility Ropes
• Salvage Operations to include: Stacking Furniture, Deploying a Salvage Cover
• Hose Stream Application
Fire Combat Challenge
SPO 1-1 Demonstrate knowledge of basic firefighter skills.
EO 1-1 Know and follow the rules of the challenge.
EO 1-2 Demonstrate proper techniques for various basic skills of firefighting.
NOTE: This drill is intended to be conducted with teams of 6 members. Divide participants into teams of 4 to 6 members. The course will be set up prior to the drill by the instructor and officers. Having an adequate water supply is essential for the second portion of the challenge.
I. Conducting the Evolutions (1-1)
a. Set up the course
1. Follow outlay for Course #1.
• Use chalk to mark the areas for ladder placement.
• Using a leg lock, tape the pennant on the wall at the same site in two or three areas (one per
team) to assure teams work off the same side of the ladder and have to ascend to the same
height.
• Officers can decide if members have to take the ladders off the engines or have them
positioned next to the apparatus.
• Rope bags should be left on the apparatus as well as tools and salvage covers so that officers
can see if members know where equipment is kept.
• The room for salvage operations should be free of any tripping hazards. What ever is to be
stacked should be divided equally so that each time has the same amount and size of furniture.
2. Identify officers at each station to watch for proper skills.
• Have paper to note areas that need additional time in training.
• Observe skills, and if skill is performed incorrectly, teams must start over at the beginning of
that skill.
3. Divide the participants into teams of 4 to 6 members.
• Assure that skills are evenly distributed.
• All participants must have gear and SCBA.
b. Establish rules
1. Teams are lined up with their gear at the starting point.
2. Each team decides who will perform the evolutions as the lead, however this task has to be
rotated. Member acting as nozzle operator, designated ladder climber, tool hoister, etc. have to
be different members.
3. The teams begin when the instructor yells, “GO”.
4. If an officer stops an evolution, the team must begin from the start of that task only.
5. Teams advance the line to marked areas before advancing to the next evolution.
6. The team must act as such. Assignments can be given to individuals, i.e., “Scott, go get the
salvage cover”, however the rest of the team must stay together.
7. If using engines or apparatus, each team is assigned which apparatus they are to use to get
equipment, etc.
8. The first challenge begins with putting on gear and ends when the salvage cover is appropriately
placed.
9. Each team is told where the ladders are to be placed according to the chalk marks, and if the
ladders are to be left up or returned to the apparatus.
10. Each team must be advised where they are to be when they hoist the tools.
11. The team must be informed on what they are to stack during the salvage operations (i.e., two
tables and four chairs, etc.).
12. The first challenge continues until the first team covers their assigned furniture.
13. The second challenge is to be played as a soccer game using charged lines.
14. The weighted ball is placed in the center of the field with goals being identified.
15. Teams direct straight water streams at the ball until one team gets the ball into the opposing
teams goal.
16. If the ball goes outside the marked playing area, the officer will replace the ball inside the
playing area and restart the evolution.
II. Skills and Course Set Up (1-2)
A. Gearing Up
1. Teams start with gear placed in front of them.
2. When command is given, members must be fully dressed, helmets, gloves, hoods in place, and be
prepared to breath air (facepiece and bottles on). They do not have to breath air.
B. Serpentine
1. Pick up nozzle. If using charge line, teams begin to advance, otherwise call for line to be charged.
2. Follow marked pattern through serpentine.
3. If knock down cone, must begin again.
4. Advance line to marked area and direct stream to knock over wooden sign (can create with a 2x6
and old plywood).
C. Ladders
1. Get ladders from ground or off apparatus.
2. Correctly lift ladder.
3. Throw ladder in designated spot.
4. Climb ladder, take a leg lock, retrieve pennant.
5. Return ladders or leave in place based on officer’s directions.
D. Hoisting Tools
1. Team advances to second floor via outside stairs.
2. Member retrieves ropebags/rope.
3. Second member retrieves two tools/pieces of equipment as directed by officer/instructor.
4. Another member ties tools for hoisting.
5. Tools hoisted to second floor.
E. Salvage Operations
1. Team enters room and stacks designated furniture.
2. Team member retrieves salvage cover from apparatus.
3. Furniture is appropriately covered so that it protects furniture and does not become a tripping
hazard.
F. Hoseline Operations
1. All teams begin at center of field.
2. Goals are assigned.
3. Teams direct straight streams towards ball until team makes a goal.
Summary
Review:
Tasks Include:
• Dressing in Full PPE and SCBA
• Charging a Line and Advancing Through a Serpentine
• Throwing, Climbing, and Using Extension Ladders
• Hoisting Tools/Equipment Using Utility Ropes
• Salvage Operations to include: Stacking Furniture, Deploying a Salvage Cover
• Hose Stream Application
Remotivation:
Officers: Every fire department knows that a productive training schedule is needed. This training should be based on a needs assessment, and this drill will help to identify areas that personnel need additional training. Officers need to actively participate by observing behaviors and developing a training schedule based on those observations.
Participants: Teamwork on the fireground is essential to a good outcome. Members need to be able to work together to accomplish tasks that are assigned in a timely manner in a safe and correct manner. This drill will help to stress the importance of teamwork, the benefit of using correct procedures, and the need to do tasks in an expedient manner.
