Tyler

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

It is a miniature version of what the big boys and girls will confront in competition, but the little firefighters can try their hand at the Firefighter Combat Challenge this weekend.

The dummies are smaller, the hoses are lighter and the tower they will climb and slide down is full of air, but Tyler firefighters hope the kids' course will be a big draw for families attending the Brookshire's Firefighter Combat Challenge today and Saturday at Broadway Square Mall.

The competition this year has the highest number of entries since first coming to Tyler in 2006.

Tyler Fire Capt. Mickey Haisten said there are at least 110 firefighters competing in the individual and both the number of relay and tandem teams has also increased. The competitors come from around the nation.

"It's going to be bigger this year than in the two previous years and we are pretty excited," Haisten said as volunteers and the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge road crew assembled the four-story tower and course. Workers snapped together bleachers, set up obstacles for the firefighters to run through and set up the perimeter for the event that will take place in front of J.C. Penney.

The competition, a regional event in the Scott 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.

No small feat, but on the children's course, the dummies weigh about 25 pounds and the girls and boys can mimic the competitors.

Tyler Firefighter Joey Hooten said he saw the children's course in Oklahoma and thought it would be a huge success in Tyler.

"I decided to see if we could get it here, so I am running this course for the kids," he said.

Hooten said his 5-year-old son Thomas had already been practicing in his backyard where he has a little course.

"He's so excited that he's been counting down the days like it was Christmas. He just wants to do what we do and he can't wait," Hooten said.

The smaller course is for children age 4 to 11.

Event coordinators are expecting more than 4,500 people to attend during the two days of competition and city officials have said the boost to the economy could be in excess of $1 million.

The admission is free and the competition begins at 6:30 p.m. today 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 Brent 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.

Tyler firefighter Scott Starkey inflates a structure for the children’s course on Thursday at the Brookshire’s Firefighter Combat Challenge.
(Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero)