For the last couple of years, I have watched in awe at Deputy Chief Daniel Garner's ability to run through the "3M Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge" practice course at Engine 5 on Pecks Rd. in Pittsfield. Capt. Neil Myers, firefighters Brady and Papa are no joke either. (There are others, I just can't recall their names). I had a chance to run through the course as well. By far, this was, THE MOST physically challenging thing I have ever done.

In full firefighter turnout gear, on air, participants climb 5 flights of stairs with 45 lbs of hose on their shoulders, then pull another 40 lbs of coiled hose up from the ground, drag a charged hose line, hammer a Keiser sled, zig zag through cones, and finally drag a 170 lb (approximately) dummy one hundred feet. The pros can do this in under two minutes and make it look easy, it is NOT easy.

Deputy Garner shared the following on facebook yesterday.

The City of Pittsfield Fire Department is excited to announce that the “3M Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge” will be held in Berkshire County for the Northeast Regional competition in 2019.

The event will take place June 14th and 15th. The full competition course, as seen on ESPN for over a decade and now televised on Livestream and ESPN3, will be set up at Berkshire Crossing in Pittsfield where everyone will be invited to join us for this event Free.

We will have our own Pittsfield and local Berkshire County firefighters competing. There will be firefighters from across the state and country attending as well. There will even be firefighters from Canada and possibly other countries travelling for this exciting event. Retired firefighters are welcome to compete also.

This is the first time in the 27 year history of the Firefighter Challenge that it will be held in Berkshire County!

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