A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam

The leadership of the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit of the A.B Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam (GIAA) continues their outstanding dedication to ensure airport firefighters operate at peak performance. GIAA ARFF battled it out for the championship and other bragging rights at this weekend’s “Island Firefighter’s Muster Challenge”, March 15-16, 2014. This annual event brings together teams from Guam’s local and federal fire departments for friendly “fire based” competition meant to foster the friendship and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood that are the hallmark of the firefighting profession.

The muster challenge comprises of two (2) daylong events with each of the two (2) “platoons” fielding teams of eight personnel that participate in three (3) different events. The first is the “Fire Engine Pull” which has the teams competing in a fire truck pulling over a distance of fifty feet in the shortest amount of time. The second event is a five “station” relay team which has a team of (6) isx fighters run an obstacle course like “station” that consist of the first member suiting up and “donning” his bunker gear and then dragging a fire hose one hundred feet and connecting it to a firehydrant. The second team member fully suited, has to pick up a “hotel pack” of fire hose and run through a slalom of cones covering one hundred feet to then pass the “pack” to the third team member who would have to then perform twenty “steps up” onto an elevated platform to then have to “haul in” via an already connected rope attached to a “donut roll” of fire hose fifty feet. the fourth team member would have to advance a charged 1 3/4″ hand-line hose fifty feet and then discharge the fire stream to knock down a pre-set target. the fifth team member would then move a steal beam five feet using an 8-lb. “dead blow” sledge hammer before tagging the last team member who then finishes the relay by dragging a 185-lb. “rescue mannequin 100 feet to the finish line. The team that completing all five (5) events in the shortest recorded time wins the event.

The final activity fir the team competition was “water polo” event that had firefighters teams face off against eahc other with charged 1 3/4″ fire hose and using the fire stream to push a tethered ball across an elevated steal line a distance of fifty feet to the opponent’s side of the steal line. The tema ti successfully push the ball to the opposing teams side is the winner.

The top three tena with the highest total aggregate scores win athe overall competition, placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

The five station event also had a “solo” competition with a single team member compete in the “stations” having to complete all five stations on his own in the shortest time. I’m pleased to say that on Saturday out of 20 competitors for the “solo” event GIAA new ARFF recruits Chad Ada placed 4th and Fred Reyes placed 15th overall, respectively. On Sunday, recruit jaytom Fejeran placed 10th out of 15 competitors. An outstanding showing from our young recruits who are participating in such an event for their very first time!

GIAA Executive Manager Chuck Ada stated the he was “very proud of our ARFF team! On Saturday, they took 3rd place in the overall team competition and on Sunday, they tied for 1st place with Andersen Fire and Then cinched 3rd place in the team overall competition! This is ARFF’s very first muster victory ever and our new recruits really exceeded our expectations. We couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments!”

The first place finisher were awarded the coveted “Brass head fire axe” with second and third earning a plaque. We will be proudly displaying these awards at the ARFF station and are looking forward to display them in our display case when our new fire station is completed.

Chuck further expressed his appreciation to all who took part in the muster, “Kudos to all the fire chiefs and teams who actively participated and especially to FIre Chief Joey San Nicolas of GFD and his team on a successful week of events that allowed all firefighters on guam to strengthen their partnership and expand their skill sets.”