The competition of firefighting groups is a competition of firefighters that includes overcoming various obstacles, the use of self-rescue techniques...

What is Fire Combat?

The firefighting group competition is a Fire competition that involves overcoming various obstacles, using self-rescue techniques, carrying an injured person and stretching a “B” hose under pressure, and putting out a “fire”.

The competition requires the firefighter to be physically fit due to the obstacles that need to be overcome on the training ground, and the equipment used during the exercise. During the performance of the exercise, the time is measured, and the final order of the teams is determined according to the fastest time required to perform the exercise. The idea of the competition was taken over by fellow firefighters from neighboring countries such as Austria and Slovenia, and today some of the competitions in Croatia are of an international character.

According to available information, the first "Fire Combat" was held in 2006 in Opatija, on the occasion of marking the 120th anniversary of firefighting in Opatija. This competition soon gained popularity in the Republic of Croatia, and today many "Fire Combat" competitions are held throughout the Republic of Croatia. Among the most famous competitions are: Vatrena Mladost˝ - DVD Kaštel Sućurac, ˝Riječke vatre˝ - Rijeka, ˝Zeleni plamen˝ - Sveti Ivan Zelina, Memorial ˝Matija Jakuš˝ - DVD Osijek Gornji Grad, ˝Plamen Turopolja˝ - JVP Velika Gorica…

Competition groups in "Fire Combat" compete in the men and women categories. Team consist of two members who make up the Fire squad. When performing the exercise itself, there is no focus on mistakes, which does not mean that they are not possible, and the actions of group members are not defined in detail. But this does not mean that competitors are not expected to perform the exercise according to the rules, and in fact in this case every mistake and quality of action is seen only at the end time of the exercise.

Rulebook on competition of fire brigades

1. General rules

The competition team consists of two members (N1 and N2) who together overcome all obstacles. The competition is open to:

- all firefighters, volunteer and professional, the competition is organized in 4 categories: A - up to 30 years

B - from 31 - 40 years

C - from 41 - 50 years

D - over 50 years

2. Competitor equipment

- fire helmet for structural fires HRN EN 443: 2008;

- emergency suit EN 469;

- intervention gloves HRN EN 659: 2008;

- protective firefighting boots HRN EN 15090: 2007;

- mounting belt, one-part or two-part (fire-hazardous type A does not meet the needs);

- descending device - descender (eight, Stop Descender, GRI-GRI or similar, fire carabiner does not meet the needs);

- isolating breathing apparatus;

3. Equipment on the competition range

- 5 "C" hoses;

- 3 hoses "B";

- Hose holder;

- "C" nozzle with latch;

- "B" nozzle with latch;

- working rope in the bag (min 15m);

- "B / B2C" splitter (or stable coupling);

- pillar with platform (3m x 3 m at a height of 6 m);

- tunnel (0.7 m x 0.7 m, l = 5 m);

- obstacle (rock) height 1.8 m, width 2.3 m;

- water source (4 bar pressure in "B" pressure line);

- lifeline (static 10.5 or 11 mm);

- a doll weighing 70 kg;

4. Task Description

1. part:

Five double-coiled "C" hoses, in a row, are placed upright at the start, on the left side of the hose (seen in the direction of the onslaught) there is a "C" nozzle with a latch, and on the (other) right side a "B/B2C" or fixed coupling. All the listed equipment is placed in the marked space (0.5 m x 1 m) at the starting line (see diagram). Hose couplings must face in the direction of the rush. Competitors begin the exercise dressed in complete firefighting protective equipment and equipped with an isolation apparatus. The performance of the competitive exercise begins at the signal of the judge. If one of the competitors starts too early, the competition is stopped and the start is repeated. If one of the competitors starts too early during a repeated start, an error is entered - "early start" (10 negative points).

All "C" hoses, nozzles and manifolds (or stable couplings) must be interconnected before the first competitor overcomes the first obstacle - the "rock". If the competitor overcomes the obstacle before all the "C" hoses, nozzle and manifold (or stable coupling) are connected to each other, an error is entered - "incorrect operation" (20 negative points). The obstacle (1.8 x 2.3 m) has a hose opening in the lower part, and a jump support is attached above the opening. At a distance of 5 m behind the obstacle there is a tunnel (0.7 x 0.7 x 5 m). Competitors must lay hoses through the tunnel, connected to each other. If the "C" pressure line to the tower is not installed as prescribed in the instructions, an error is entered - incorrectly laid "C" pressure line (15 negative points).

In the event that during the exercise a pair of couplings is disconnected and remains unconnected or is connected with only one tooth, an error is entered - "unconnected couplings" (20 negative points per pair). The competitor can go back and reconnect the coupler. When moving towards the start, it does not have to return over an obstacle. After reconnecting the couplings he must re-overcome the obstacle he may have bypassed.

15 m after the tunnel is a tower with a landing (height 6 m). A ladder (fixed with a working rope) is leaning against the landing. The first competitor climbs the platform (3 x 3 m) on the tower and lowers the working rope he previously secured to the ground. The other competitor ties the nozzle and the hose to the rope using the appropriate connection - a cross connection around both couplings with the wrapper on the nozzle itself. After tying the nozzle, the competitor on the tower raises the "C" pressure line to the platform. If the correct connection of the nozzles is not made, the error "incorrect connection of the nozzles" is written (30 negative points).

The pressure line is raised to the platform in such a way that the first "C" hose is completely raised to the platform. For a raised pressure line where the first "C" hose is not fully raised on the platform, an error is entered - incorrectly laid "C" pressure line (15 negative points). After the "C" pressure hose is raised on the platform, it is secured with a hose holder under the connection of the first and second hose. For incorrectly installed hose holder, the error "incorrectly installed hose holder" will be entered (10 negative points). Throwing equipment is not allowed when overcoming any of the obstacles. Any throwing of equipment will be characterized as improper operation.

2. part:

From the podium, the team descends to the ground using a climbing rope. Firefighters use a descent device, a climbing rope descender (eight, Stop Descender or Gri-Gri) to descend. Each competitor prepares for the descent independently. There is a judge on the podium who checks the correct placement of the descender before lowering.

The judge on the tower will stop a competitor who has not set the descender correctly until he has set it up correctly. If the descender is not placed correctly after the judge's instructions, the competition team will be disqualified.

When descending and landing, the competitor must land on both shelves with both feet, otherwise the error "incorrect operation" is entered (20 negative points).

3. part:

At a distance of 5 m from the pole on the ground lies a doll (70 kg), which firefighters must carry together 30 m to the marked area. The doll should be placed so that no part of the body crosses the line of the marked space. Otherwise, the error is written incorrect work (20 negative points). In the event that the doll falls or a part of the doll's body is dragged on the ground, the error "improper carrying of the doll" (30 penalty points) will be entered.

4. part:

The last task is to stretch the "B" pressure line composed of 3 "B" hoses full of water (pressure = 4 bar), at the end of which is an ordinary nozzle with a latch, up to 30 m distant "fire" line (fire line 30m + 2 m) and hit the target with a jet at a distance of 10 m from the "firing" line. The nozzle opens only after reaching the "line of fire" and not before another member of the group joins the nozzle and touches it. When opening the jet, both the nozzle and the jet must be within the limits of the firing line. Another member of the team may be outside the line of fire, according to the source of the extinguishing water. Competitors are not allowed to cross the line of fire towards the fire. By destroying the target, the task is done. Destroying a target also marks the end of the exercise. The "C" pressure rail is used in the women's category. Destroying a target differently than described will be sanctioned as "improper operation" (20 negative points). For a violation of the line of fire when shooting at a target, an error will be entered - a violation of the line of fire (20 negative points). Opening the nozzle before the firing line without knocking down the target will result in the disqualification of the competition team.

5. Judges

Judges are appointed by the organizers in the following positions:

1. Chief Judge;

2. Judge 1 - on the polygon;

3. Judge 2 - on the tower:

6. Time Measuring

Time is measured from the start of the competition team to the moment when the competitors knock down the target. The leader is responsible for measuring the time, who has 2 assistants with him (measures 3 people). The final time is the mean time of all three measurements.

7. Disqualification

- if any of the competitors bypasses any of the obstacles;

- if any of the competitors removes the mask of the isolating apparatus during the exercise;

- incorrectly placed descender;

- if the doll is carried by one competitor;

- demolition of the target before reaching the "line of fire";

- if some of the tasks are not performed;

- inappropriate behavior of competitors as well as accompanying team members;

8. Training and rehearsal of the track on the day of the competition

Training and rehearsal of the track are possible the day before and on the day of the competition before the start of the official competition program.

9. Negative points

1.) Exercise execution time - Every second is 1 negative point. Tenths of a second are tenths of a negative point.

2.) Early start (10 negative points)

3.) Improperly laid "C" pressure line (15 negative points)

4.) Unconnected couplings (20 negative points per pair)

5.) Irregular connection on the nozzle (30 negative points)

6.) Improperly placed pipe holder (10 negative points)

7.) Improper wearing of the doll (30 negative points)

8.) Equipment left or lost (by mistake 10 negative points)

9.) Offensive on the line of fire (20 negative points)

10.) Irregular work (20 negative points)