Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Under the umbrella of the Directorate of Civil Defense, 911 Fire Fighting and Occupational Safety Training is organizing the first Saudi Arabian Firefighter Challenge 2014 in Jeddah.

The competition, based on firefighting tasks commonly performed in emergency situations, will take place on Sunday and Monday at the Red Sea Mall parking lot.



Participants from firefighting and emergency rescue units under 16 Civil Defense centers in the Makkah province will test their endurance and determination in a 2-minute race against time.



The challenge is held under the support of Makkah Emir Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah and is considered the first of its kind in the Kingdom.



"The event aims to motivate firefighters to keep going and maintain a healthily competitive atmosphere for fitness and skills,” said Makkah province Civil Defense spokesman Col. Saeed Bin Sarhan.



He noted that the challenge brings together a large number of firefighters from around the region to compete in what is known as the “toughest two minutes in sports.”



The challenge will be held at a 15,000-sq foot arena featuring a 4-story tower with three main sequences during which six firefighting and rescue tasks will follow one another at a frantic pace.



Hatim Ali Muharaq, general manager of Herz International, organizers of the event, said: “Safety and security provisions are our top priority in order to keep people safe. The event aims to raise awareness, educate the community and assist people in reacting meticulously to fires and accidents.”



He pointed out that the participants of the competition will have to perform many tasks, such as stair climbs with the high-rise pack, hose hoisting, forced entry, run, hose advance and victim rescue.



911 Firefighting introduced the Firefighter Championships to the region in 2009. Originally created in North America in 1994, the event has grown internationally to become the premier emergency services event in the world, providing great benefits for the fire services and society at large.