By Gary Lloyd
CENTER POINT — The Center Point Fire District won first place Saturday at a national firefighter challenge on a NASCAR raceway in North Carolina.
The fire district won gold in the individual team competition at the Scott Air-Pack Firefighter Challenge in Charlotte. Team members also won several other awards at the two-day competition. More than 36 fire departments across the U.S. participated.
Members of the Center Point Fire District combat team are Battalion Chief Lonnie West, Lt. Brandon Dahlen, Fire-Medic Calem Hicks, Fire-Medic C.J. Elliott and Fire-Medic Adrian Millican. On the first day, this group won the individual team competition, and Hicks took fifth place overall in individual scoring.
On the second day of competition, West and Millican won second place in the tandem competition, and all five won third place in the relay competition.
Teams are exposed to timed, real-world challenges that demonstrate the advancement of carrying hose lines up a stairway, hoisting of hose, striking of a metal frame for simulating a forcible entry, advancement of a hose-line and flowing water, and carrying a dummy that simulates rescuing a trapped victim until the team member reaches the finish line.
Fire Chief Donnie West said he’s proud of his firefighters for their dedication and commitment for competing at a world-class event of this nature.
“Competition at this level is extremely difficult and requires an individual to be in excellent physical condition,” he said in a Facebook post.
The Center Point Fire District serves about 65,000 residents in a 70-mile radius, including in Clay, Pinson, Center Point and surrounding areas.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.