Tyler

By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer

The Brookshire's Firefighter Combat Challenge has proven to be a popular community event, as thousands flocked to the Broadway Square Mall parking lot Friday and Saturday. Tyler Fire Department officials, who helped bring the challenge to the city for the third year, said about 4,500 spectators ventured to the event over the weekend.

Tyler Fire Capt. Mickey Haisten was pleased with the event and the three Tyler team's performances.

"All three of the combat firefighter teams qualified for the world competition in Las Vegas in November," Haisten said. "It was a great event. It gets bigger and better every year."

Each year, the event has produced dramatic wins and this year was no exception.

A new world record was set by Greg Blackburn and Robert Callaghan of Norman, Oklahoma in the Over 50 tandem two-man relay category. They completed the course in one minute and 45 seconds, breaking Colorado firefighter Juliet Draper's one minute and 48 second record from two years ago.

The best team time went to Sam's Squad, of the Department of Defense Fire Academy. They recorded the best team time -- 28 minutes and 40 seconds -- in eight years in the division.

Tyler's Under 40 relay team won fourth place.

Tyler Fire Department Captain Jeff Akin said Tyler firefighters have participated in the competition for seven years and is happy to see the event grow in Tyler. He said 59 teams participated in the challenge over the weekend and represented many states across the country including Illinois, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The challenge was the regional event in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge.

"The first year, no one really understood what it was," Akin said. "But now, because of word of mouth, it is a well attended event."

The significance of the challenge, he said, is that it allows people see what exactly firefighters go through at any given time.

"It's about the firefighter's profession in general," he said. "The course has five different parts. Each part is designed to match the job requirements of a firefighter. They have to run similar courses to get hired at the fire department."

The five events were the high-rise hose carry, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and victim rescue.

Akin said Tyler firefighters trained about two to three times a week at a field near the Harvey Convention Center.

Family, friends and people who just wanted to see what it was all about filled the bleachers under the hot sun Saturday.

Intermittent chants could be heard every few minutes, as the crowd cheered for their favorite firefighter or team.

The crowd applauded when announcers remembered El Paso firefighter Kip Hall, who finished the course last year despite having undergone chemotherapy for brain cancer just days before the competition. He died two months after his feat.

Sheri Daugherty of Tyler came out both days with daughters Avery and Alexis despite the heat, and said it was important to commend those who risk their lives each day.

"It's fun for the kids and it is good support for the fire department," Daugherty said. "We may not always remember these guys, but they do work hard for us. Looking at what they do on the obstacle course, I couldn't do it."

Kristina Shockley, also of Tyler, enjoyed watching the challenge.

"I just like being here supporting the firefighters," she said. "They are good people and are here for a reason. It's good to see them being cheered on by other firefighters and their spouses. It is a great community gathering."

A Tyler Fire rookie, Kevin Skinner, was among the firefighters who received great applause and support as he raced down the course. He had just finished his probationary period two weeks ago, and Saturday's combat challenge was his first competition.

"It is good to have the support," he said as he caught his breath after completing the course. "It helps to push us on."

Although it was a true challenge for Skinner, he said there's nothing like working a real fire.

"Working a fire is more difficult because of the heat, but this a good way to train for it," he said.

This was the second year Rick Portilloz had participated in the combat challenge and his first time in Tyler. He represented the Sand Springs Fire Department, which is in a community near Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"It's all about doing it for the job, but this is kind of a fun time too," Portilloz said. "It's a way for the community to see how firefighters prepare for work."

Kids got in the act also. For the first time, children had a chance to participate in a mini obstacle course of their own.

Bracey Cover, 5, of Tyler volunteered at the mini course, alongside his father Clint Cover, a Tyler firefighter, as his mother, Dusti looked on. Bracey said he was having a good time and wanted to be a fireman one day, just like his dad. He got a good lesson on how to work in the heat as he hauled water hoses back to starting positions.

"I'm just helping out," Bracey said. "It's way too hot for me, but I can deal with it."

Proceeds from food and beverage sales and firefighter registration fees benefited the Shriner's Hospitals for Children and a Stewart Regional Blood Center bus was on hand for a blood drive.

Tyler firefighter Casey Cabinnes pulls a fire hose up the five story tower in the Brookshire’s Firefighter Combat Challenge relay event in the Broadway Square Mall parking lot Saturday morning.
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)