Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department competition puts training to the test

The competition combines elements firefighters learn through training and drills throughout the year, assistant fire Chief Rick Hoyle said.

“Competition is good. It brings out the best in the guys,” Hoyle said.

The contest simulated a fire in a high-rise. Teams of no more than eight members needed to run water through a hose from a hydrant to a hookup on the department’s drill tower at Lynch Field. Firefighters in full gear carried hoses to the fourth story of the tower, shooting water out the window to signal the end of the challenge.

Meanwhile, other members of the team needed to climb a ladder up the tower and use ropes to pull an ax and pike pole up after them.

Time was the most important factor, but teams were penalized for making mistakes, Hoyle said.

Before the competition, teams were told three possible scenarios to practice for. They didn’t learn which they’d be facing until the day of the contest.

“This is intended to bring all of those training sessions together, and display it under a time clock,” Hoyle said.

Hose Company No. 1 was victorious, with a final time of 7 minutes, 23 seconds.

Competitions like this used to be common in the department, but the last one was held in 1993. Department leaders decided to bring the contest back this year.

A small crowd of spectators watched from the sidelines.

Department leaders were especially excited by the participation of junior firefighters, whose ages range from 14 to 17.

“This is the lifeblood of the fire service,” assistant chief Lou Battistella said.

The department hopes to make competitions like this a regular event again.