Ultimate Firefighter explained!

Ultimate Firefighter, which kicks off today on the Titanic Slipways at 10am, is one of the absolute highlights of the games! It tests the fitness and special skills required by the very best firefighters from around the world, while providing a great spectacle of speed, strength and stamina for spectators!

The event is open to the public to spectate and entry is free. It will feature competitors from a wide range of countries including the US, Canada, the UK and Europe.

Here’s everything you need to know!

Individual Event

Tuesday 6th August and Wednesday 7th August

Titanic Slipways

Start time: 10am with Hose task and High Rise. Lunch and changeover at 1pm. Weight & strength task and Obstacle Course begin at 2:15pm.

Team Event

Thursday 8th August

Titanic Slipways

Start time: *11am with Hose task and High Rise until 12:15pm. Lunch and changeover take place from 12:15pm until 1pm. Weight & strength task and Obstacle Course take place from 1pm until 3pm.

*Times are subject to change for the Team event

Ultimate Firefighter features four tasks designed to test the fitness and special skills required by the very best firefighters:

Stage 1 – Hose Task

Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to 2 separate 150 foot (45.72 meter) lengths of 2 ½ inch (63.5 millimeter or 65 millimeter) hose lines. Place one line over each shoulder, advance the lines to a full 150 feet (45.72 meters) and drag both lines an extra 30 feet (9.144 meters) across designated line.(Note: it is allowed at any point to leave the second hose, drag the first hose over the shoulder across the line and return to the second hose over the shoulder to complete the drag.)

Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to two 50 foot (15.24 m) unrolled sections of 2 ½ inch (63.5 millimeters or 65 millimeters) hose. Roll each hose line and carry 60 feet (18.288 meters) to the finish line.

Hose rolls will be carried one in each hand or stacked on top of each other carrying with both arms to the finish line. Hose rolls must be tightly rolled (cannot fall apart). No tag ends hanging or loosely rolled hose. If hose unrolls, competitor must stop and re-roll hose.

Stage 2 – Weight and Strength Task

Run 50 feet (15.24 meters) from start line carrying a 24 foot (7.3152 meters) extension ladder to wall. Put butt of ladder against wall. Raise ladder 6 rungs, lock it off, and rest it against the tower (butt of ladder must be pulled back from the wall to a designated line – to facilitate a proper climbing angle). Run to base of tower.

Pick up 100 feet (30.48 meters) 1 ½ inch (38.1 millimeter) hotel (high rise) pack and carry up the stairs to the top of the tower. At the top of the tower place hotel (high rise) pack in box or designated area. From the top of the tower, hoist a 40 pound (18.144 kilograms) hose attached to a rope to the top of the tower and place hose in box or designated area.

Descend the stairs to the base of the tower. Pick up a master stream nozzle and axe. Run 25 feet (7.62 meters and screw the nozzle onto an appliance. Place the axe blade end into a block of wood. Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to finish line.

Stage 3 – Obstacle Course

Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to Keiser force machine. Drive (hit) the beam 5 feet (1.52 meters) to the end, with a 9 pound (4.08 kilograms) shot mallet hammer. Place hammer in designated area.

Run 10 feet (3.048 meters) to obstacle course – run through the course around the 5 pylons to the Rescue Dummy and drag dummy 50 feet (15.24 meters) to and around cone and back 50 feet (15.24 meters) across the finish line (all of the dummy must clear the line).

Stage 4 – High Rise

Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to the base of the tower. Pick up a 100 feet (30.48 meters) 1 ½ inch (38.1 millimeters) hotel (high rise) pack and climb the stairs to the top of the tower.

Place hotel (high rise) pack in a box or designated area. Descend stairs to base of tower. Pick up a chain saw and climb stairs to the top of the tower. Chain saw can be carried on shoulder.

Place chain saw in a box or designated area. Descend stairs to the base of the tower. Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to the finish line.

Further information about the ‘Ultimate Firefighter’ events, including updates on schedules, is available here. Please check the website for any schedule changes before attending.