Three Lakewood Firefighters Compete in Firefighter Combat Challenge

Last weekend, three Lakewood firefighters proudly represented our community in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge in Virginia Beach.

This worldwide competition requires top physical fitness and firefighting ability. Wearing “full bunker gear” and the Scott 5.5 Air-Pak breathing apparatus, pairs of competitors race head-to-head as they simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the 5-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. “victim” as they race against themselves, their opponent, and the clock.

With the coaching of Firefighter Michael Dobranski, Firefighters Patrick Linn and Larry Artzner competed in the Challenge and finished with impressive times.

“These guys worked so hard. Coming in to work an hour and a half early every shift for months, just to get in shape” said Coach Dobranski. “It was awesome to see them compete and finish with great times.”

The hard work put in by Firefighters Dobranksi, Linn, and Artzner enables them to provide the best life-saving protection for the City of Lakewood residents.