Travis firefighters win world championship

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alice Moore
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) --  Competing against the best of the best, a team of Travis firefighters captured top honors during the World Firefighter Combat Challenge Nov. 9 to 13 in Las Vegas.

It is the first Department of Defense team to win the international title and only the second American team to win the award since 1997.

During the challenge, firefighters race against their opponents and the clock. Competition events involve: carrying a 42-pound hose roll up a six-story tower of stairs; hoisting a 42-pound hose roll to the top of the tower; hammering a 160-pound steel beam a distance of five feet; sprinting 140 feet while zigzagging through a series of cones; dragging a fire hose 75 feet and then opening the nozzle to hit a target with the water stream; and dragging a 175-pound simulated victim a distance of 100 feet.

Throughout the world competition, more than 80 teams competed for a spot in the finals, in which only 21 could compete.

The Travis team easily made the finals with the third fastest time: 4 minutes 34.74 seconds. During the final competition, the Travis team shaved nearly 10 seconds off that time to capture first place.

“I’m proud of the team," said Tech. Sgt. Mike Melton, Travis team captain. "They worked hard. It’s been a six-year journey to get to where we are at today.”

The team also placed second in the relay competition, making them the top American and DOD performers in that event.

“The race was head to head from the start to the finish, and the level of physical fitness and preparation during this race was obvious for both teams,” said Peter Dolan, Travis fire chief.

Team members practiced for the event at least six hours a day, several days a week, during their spare time.

“I wanted to really win this year," said Staff Sgt. Harry Myers, of the team. "I knew what we had to do. This year we definitely had the right team members who possessed the right attitude, heart and drive to bring this championship home."

In 2000, Travis firefighters participated in the team's first full season of competitions. Since that time, Chief Dolan said they have worked hard to become better and better.

“This team started out with next to nothing. It’s been a long journey to get this far," Sergeant Melton said.

Sergeant Melton said that the team’s victory symbolized what Air Force fire protection is all about.

“(We are) a total-force team of active duty, Reserve and civilians," he said. "The teamwork, dedication and perseverance is what Air Force fire protection is all about.”

Besides Travis' first and second place finishes in the team events, Sergeant Melton and Sergeant Myers placed third and eighth, respectively, in the male individual category out of more than 140 competitors; David Chiodo placed seventh in the male over-50 competition; and Shenah Flores finished 10th in the female individual category. Chiodo and Flores were the top DOD competitors in the respective categories.

Other Airmen on the Travis team were Staff Sgts. Frank Abreu and Jelani Brooks, Senior Airman Brendan O’Neil and Adam Groom.

The challenge finals will air Dec. 19 and 22, and Jan. 22 on ESPN. (Courtesy of Air Mobility Command News Service)