FIREFIGHTERS often face high-pressure situations and time constraints.
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They certainly experienced those challenges at the 50th CFA District 24 rural championships at Chiltern Recreation Reserve yesterday.
Beginners to the highly experienced, from Baranduda, Chiltern, Wodonga West and even Hurstbridge battled it out in seven different events that encompassed pumps, hoses and ladders.
CFA District 24 officer in charge Paul King said it was a spirited competition where people could build on their basic firefighting skills.
“The vast majority of competitors are volunteers and active firefighters and what they do in the championship reflects the work they do on the fire ground,” he said.
About a third of the 120 competitors were women and the number of junior entrants increased.
“It shows we are ticking all the boxes and making sure we represent the whole community,” Mr King said.
“We have a growing number of females involved and they make terrific firefighters.”
Teams that won the championships yesterday will now test their skills at the state championships in St Arnaud later this month.
Chiltern is set to hold the state championships in 2017.
