Tyler

By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer

Not even age could slow down Colorado Springs firefighter Denny Peffer.

Peffer was in a race against the clock Friday night as he went through the Brookshire's Firefighter Combat Challenge at Broadway Square Mall. He finished the race in one minute and 50 seconds, making him the current world record holder in the over 55 category.

"This is the most intense thing I've ever done," he said after the challenge. "I'm real happy that I was able to break the record."

Capt. Mickey Haisten with the Tyler Fire Department said there were 140 firefighters from around the nation who took part as individuals in the competition.

Those individuals participated in five events: high-rise hose carry, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and victim rescue.

Firefighters had to climb flights of stairs carrying a 42-pound hose and drag a 175-pound dummy as part of the challenge.

Some firefighters, like Peffer, have been doing competitions like this for years, but Palestine firefighter Tim Ingram got his first taste Friday.

It was "really different than I thought," he said. It was "harder than I thought."

As participants finished their race, they were able to get some water and cool off in a tent nearby.

The competition is a regional event in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, and Haisten said those who qualify may eventually wind up going to Las Vegas in November for a world competition.

He said competition in Las Vegas includes firefighters from the United States and Canada and requires a time under one minute and 50 seconds for individuals and under six minutes and 30 seconds for teams.

Firefighter Brandon Davis said he has been part of a Tyler team that participated in such competitions for eight years.

"It's hard to all train together because we all work different shifts," he said. "It really takes an individual effort."

Members of the Tyler team are 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, Josh Spineherne and Matt Ford.

In 2006, Haisten said, a highlight was Colorado firefighter Juliet Draper beating the women's record. He said Draper was not at this year's competition in Tyler because she is training for the 2012 Olympics in weight lifting.

Aside from the firefighters competing, there was a children's course that was available for ages 4 to 11 that included an inflatable tower and a slide they would go down.

Refreshments included lemonade, funnel cakes and corn dogs.

"Our rent is helping them raise money," said Ted Kamel, owner of Ted Kamel Foods, one of the vendors offering food to the crowd. "I wanted to be part of this event because it's for a good reason."

Haisten said they are expecting 4,000 or 4,500 spectators to come to the competition collectively Friday and today. Teams will compete today beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Sponsors of the two-day event are the city of Tyler, the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau, East Texas Medical Center, Broadway Square Mall and Brookshire's Grocery Co.

Staff Writer Kenneth Dean contributed to this report.

Firefighter Brent Porter goes through the swinging doors at the Firefighters Combat Challenge opening night at Broadway Square Mall on Friday. More than 100 firefighters from across the nation are participating in the competition.
(Staff Photos By Jaime R. Carrero)