Events
'Be a Firefighter' On Course Experience Public Recruitment Program hosted by Grand Rapids Fire Dept. July 29th
'Be a Firefighter' On Course Experience Public Recruitment Program hosted by Grand Rapids Fire Dept. July 30th
Competition Category Types and Team Registration Instructions
EVENT LOCATION: CALDER PLAZA
Participants can enter in one or more of the following categories:
Individual Category – a competitor running the entire Course, on-air (COVID protocols permitting), in full turnout gear; automatically considered for the specific respective age or sex category that is in effect at the event, as well as the open category.
Team Category – a team is comprised of 3 to 5 members, each of whom runs the Course individually (that is, on-air (as COVID protocols permit), in full turnout gear) and receives an individual time. The team time is composed of the three fastest individual times from team members added together. If there are less than three members with times due to disqualifications, no-shows, etc., there is no time, and the team will not receive consideration for placement.
Veteran Relay Team Category – a group of 3 to 5 members, each of whom completes part of the Course before handing a baton over to another member. The members are in full turnout gear, except that facepieces are not worn. They usually are seeded with their first race at regional events and then enter an elimination bracket based on their seeding time. New and veteran relay teams typically compete in separate brackets.
New Relay Team Category – a group of first-time competitors in the Firefighter Challenge who get to enter into the Challenge 'free of charge'. Relay teams consist of a group of 3 to 5 members, each of whom completes part of the Course before handing a baton over to another member. The members are in full turnout gear, except that facepieces are not worn. They usually are seeded with their first race at regional events and then enter an elimination bracket based on their seeding time. New and veteran relay teams typically compete in separate brackets.
Tandem Category – a pair of competitors, each of whom completes roughly half the Course, with the handoff coming before or after the Keiser Forcible Entry Evolution. The members are in full turnout gear, except that facepieces are not worn. A tandem team may qualify for multiple categories but must specify beforehand which category they wish to compete in. (To compete in more than one category, it requires running more than one race, each designated as the specific category for consideration).
Recruitment Program for Grand Rapids Fire Dept. - This event will allow interested individuals aka aspiring firefighters to experience the Firefighter Challenge course and feel the exhilaration of being a firefighter. One of the goals of this weekend event is to bring awareness of the urgent need and recruitment of an inclusive, diverse and enriched new generation of First Responders. From all of us at the Grand Rapids Fire Department, we welcome all candidates, questions, and interest in what we do!
HOW DO I REGISTER MY TEAM? PLEASE READ SO YOU DO NOT MISS ANY STEPS!
Only one member of the team should do the initial registration for the Veteran Relay, New Relay, Tandem or Team Member. Before doing so, the following information will be needed during the registration process:
• DETERMINE THE TEAM’S NAME
• DETERMINE WHICH TEAM EVENT YOU ARE REGISTERING FOR
Ready to Register? First: Open and/or print the step-by-step instructions below to use moving forward, then scroll back up to the top of this page and select TEAMS under EVENTS.
CLICK THIS LINK: REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEAM CAPTAIN
CLICK THIS LINK: REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF TEAM
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO 2022 COMPETITORS
Dear Competitors,
We would like to provide an update related to individual competitors running on air during this season’s Firefighter Challenge events. The 2022 season, we hope, will be the final transitional year that the Challenge alters its rules/procedures related to Covid-19 precautions. Challenge competition rule 3.2 will continue to be modified in such that competitors will not don the SCBA facepiece and breathe air as part of the individual/team category events. The Health & Safety Committee and Competition Oversight Committees are working diligently to ensure your safety at events. Current sanitation, hygiene and safety protocols are being evaluated and updated to minimize our competitor’s risk and will be deployed during this season’s events. Competitors wishing to run on air for the purposes of Lion’s Den qualification or other record-related times will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. It is recommended that you contact Todd Shelton, Chief Program Officer, in advance to ensure availability of equipment. Enhanced cleaning protocols will apply to masks, regulators and SCBA units per the manufacturer’s recommendation for covid-19 precautionary practices. Your safety is our first priority!
Sincerely,
Jimmy Johnson, Chair-Health & Safety Committee
Daniel Garner, Chair-Competition Oversight Committee
Description
Are you ready to enter the Arena of the Brave, competing side-by-side with fellow firefighters on the most globally recognized challenge course in the fire service? Then here is your chance! The Official Firefighter Challenge™ is coming and is open to all firefighters regardless of where they are in their fitness journey.
Competitors will take on our skills-based course tackling what are known as the Five Essential Functions™ wearing full turnout gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus provided by 3M™ Scott™ Air-Pak™. Competitors can choose from individual, relay, or tandem competitions. Each race will duplicate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by climbing the five-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses, and rescuing a life-sized, 175-pound “victim” as participants race against themselves, their opponents, and the clock. The camaraderie, encouragement, and takeaway experiences firefighters have at each event are immeasurable. This fun gathering of local, national, and international firefighters unites all involved in their inspiring and individual journeys of improving their personal and professional mental, physical and medical well-being. Preparing them to be the absolute best they can be in an occupation that demands they be ready to endure the unexpected at a moment's notice. Register today and come join us! You might just surprise yourself.
Place
CALDER PLAZA
Grand Rapids, MI US 49503
Event Schedule
Friday:
9:00AM - Onsite Registration and Check-In Tent opens
9:00AM to 2:00PM - will be open practice for all registered competitors
2:00PM to 4:00PM - Recruitment "On Course" program hosted by the Grand Rapids Fire Dept.
4:00PM to 7:00PM - Corporate and Charity Relay Challenge events
Saturday:
8:00AM - Onsite Registration and Check-In Tent opens
9:30AM to 10:30AM - Recruitment "On Course" program hosted by the Grand Rapids Fire Dept.
10:30AM - Opening Ceremonies
11:00AM to Noon - Corporate and Charity Relay Challenge Events
1:00PM to 5:00PM - Individual Competition
7:00PM - Community Activities
Sunday:
9:00AM - Community Activities
9:00AM - Opening Ceremony
9:30AM to 2:30PM - Tandems and Relays
2:30PM - Closing Ceremony/Awards
Hotel Information
AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown
50 Monroe Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503, US
Organizers of the Grand Rapids event offers competitors a dedicated website to book their hotel rooms online.
Reservations can be made via this link:
https://book.passkey.com/e/50337934
FAQ's
Who can participate? Two eligible groups:
Group 1: Any first responder, whether cadet, volunteer, or career, over 18 years of age, with a signed waiver can participate. Junior firefighters/Fire Explorers can participate if they and their parents sign our waivers. These competitors bring their own firefighter turnout gear to compete.
Group 2: Any lay person athlete with a signed waiver can participate. Participants can choose to compete as an individual, relay or tandem team. Participants must wear closed toe shoes and bring gloves with good gripping material. You will not compete in turnout gear. Participants will indicate they are a lay person competing in the required question field located during the registration process. Competition times will be recognized in the lay person category while firefighters are in their own category since they are competing for state, regional, national and world record times.
How do I register? You can find our schedule of event locations at www.firefighterchallenge.com. Just click “register now” on your favorite location.
How do I Manage Setting Up a Team in the System? Follow these instructions provided by RunSignUp: DIRECTIONS
Why should I pre-register? Pre-registration allows us to properly order the correct number and sizes of T-shirts to ensure all participants get the location’s custom design.
Why do you charge for registration? The registration fee covers the cost for awards, medals, T-shirts and supports the mission of First Responder Institute.
What do I need to bring? All participants should bring their turnout gear, boots, gloves, and helmet. All gear must be NFPA 1971 approved.
What do I need to know if it’s my first run? Attend our Good 2 Go program. Depending on the location, it will be the day before the Event, either in the late afternoon or a full day. During these hours you will find veteran competitors and/or our staff eager to help you succeed. You will be able to familiarize yourself with each area of the course and be fully ready to experience your first run.
How many Categories can I sign up for? As many as you want. Form relays and tandems, have a great time!
What are the rules and regulations? Please find our rules and regulations on the Firefighter Challenge website.
Who is First Responder Institute? A 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization. Learn more on our website.
What is the Refund Policy? Our policy is stated on this same page up in the section above.
For All Questions Related to Using the RunSignUp Platform visit their website's support page SUPPORT PAGE
Cancellation/Refund Policy
An Event Registration Fee is refundable only if First Responder Institute, the 501(C)(3) tax-exempt umbrella organization of the Firefighter Challenge, cancels the Event. For the avoidance of doubt, Participant is not entitled to any refund once Participant is charged the Total Event Fees, except as expressly set forth below.
Canceled and Rescheduled Events. You bear all risks of inclement weather. You also understand and agree that First Responder reserves the right to cancel the Event for any event that is beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, in the event of weather (and further including, but not limited to, pandemic, epidemic, heat, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, storms, lightning and floods), accidents, acts or threats of war or terrorism, military conflicts, riots, government order, law or regulation, national or regional emergency or for any reason that would in the sole discretion of First Responder affect the safety and security of Event participants and/or spectators or the feasibility of the Event. You agree to hold First Responder harmless from any claim of any kind or nature that you may bring that is related to any cancellation or disruption of the Event. In the event of an Event cancellation for any reason, there will be no refund of your payment unless authorized by First Responder. If an Event is canceled, and you purchased your Event Registration through the First Responder site, you will be permitted to transfer/defer your registration to another Event, as set forth below. If First Responder issues you a refund for an Event Registration due to a canceled or postponed Event, First Responder will issue a refund of the Event Registration Fee and for all service fees paid. If a refund is issued, it will be issued using the same method of payment that was used to purchase the Event Registration. First Responder is not liable for travel or any other expenses that you (or anyone else) incurs in connection with a canceled or postponed Event.
Refunds and Transfers. Before purchasing an Event Registration, carefully review your purchase. First Responder does not offer a refund of Event Registration Fees for any circumstances. You agree that you will not attempt to evade, avoid, or circumvent any refund prohibitions in any manner with regard to an Event Registration that you purchased. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you will not contact First Responder to seek a refund. You will not dispute or otherwise seek a “chargeback” from the company whose credit card or the online payment method you used to purchase an Event registration from the First Responder site. Should you do so, your Event Registration may be canceled and First Responder may, in its sole discretion, refuse to honor pending and future Event registrations made from all credit card accounts or online accounts on which such chargebacks have been made, and may prohibit all persons in whose name the credit card accounts exist and any person who accesses any associated online account or credit card or who otherwise breaches this provision from using the site in the future.
Challenge Website
Additional Challenge information can be found at http://www.firefighterchallenge.com.
Challenge Contact Info
If you have any questions about this Challenge, click the button below.
Charity State Disclosure Notices
Charity State Disclosure Notices
There are currently 27 jurisdiction that require charities to provide some form of disclosure statement when communicating with donors. Note that disclosure statement requirements for charities vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Prospective donors use disclosure statements to help in determining which charitable organizations is in line with their values before donating.
A copy of the latest financial report, registration filed by this organization, and a description of our programs and activities may be obtained by contacting us at: (P.O. Box 70127, Oro Valley, AZ 85755 or by phone at 301-615-0180). First Responder Institute, Inc. was formed in Maryland. If you are a resident of one of the following states, you may obtain financial information directly from the state agency: VIEW DISCLOSURE NOTICES
