Tyler

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

The first year a female firefighter broke a world record, the second year a firefighter battling cancer completed the course as spectators shouted his name.

This year, firefighters say they again expect to thrill the crowd as they compete in the Brookshire's Firefighter Combat Challenge this Friday and Saturday at Broadway Square Mall.

Tyler firefighter Brent Hail said his teammates are ready for the challenge. He is excited about the competition and believes more than 4,500 spectators will attend.

He added there are already more than 100 individual�competitors and the registration is still open.

The competition, a regional event in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, is one step on the way to the nationals, scheduled for November in Las Vegas.

In full gear, firefighters participate in individual and team competition in five events: high-rise hose carry, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and victim rescue.

What is new this year?

Hail said there are several new additions to the event with one being a children's course to run the challenge on a smaller scale.

"It's actually pretty cool for the young kids to run through," he said.

Hail said families should come out and cheer on the Tyler team and enjoy in the fun.

The admission is free and the competition begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. for the individual and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for the tandem and relays.

The Shriners are scheduled to have a booth taking donations for the burn hospital and there is also a scheduled blood drive both days.

Members of the Tyler team include firefighters Hail, Glynn Ray, Brandon Davis, Patrick Mayo, Stuart Weatherford, Casey Cabaniss, Joey Hooten, Terry Hawkins, Zack "Toolbox" Houston, Mike Frost, Jeremy Driver, Jay McClung, Mike Curbow, Cody Fisher and Matt Ford.

The first year Colorado firefighter Juliet Draper ran the course in one minute and 48 seconds, which beat the women's record by 15 seconds, as well as many male firefighters in the competition.

The crowd went wild as Ms. Draper flew through the course with precision and determination.

"I knew I could beat the record, but I didn't know it would be by this much," she said at the time.

Last year El Paso firefighter Kip Hall inspired the crowd with his determination to finish the course despite having undergone chemotherapy for brain cancer just days before the competition.

Hall died last October, just two months after his Tyler appearance.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help set up the course can meet at Broadway Square Mall in front of J.C. Penney Thursday at 8 a.m.

Volunteers are also needed to help throughout the event both days.

The Tyler firefighters have a rich history of doing well in the competition and have placed multiple times on the national level.

TOUGH ENOUGH: Tyler firefighter Brent Hail hauls up a 42-pound hose up to the top of a five-story tower in the Firefighters Combat Challenge at Broadway Square Mall on Sept., 1, 2007.
(Staff File Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)