ELKHART, Ind. — Fighting fires is inevitable for most firefighters — that is why the job title literally explains the job. But there’s only so much a firefighter can do to prepare for what it is like to stand face to face with a burning building or carrying a 75-foot-long hose and accurately spray it while under pressure.

That is where the idea for the annual Scott Safety Firefighter Challenge was born. In 1974, firefighters wanted a way to test a job applicant’s ability to fight fires, and over the years that test turned into a nationwide challenge that came to Elkhart last week.

The combat challenge was originally designed to help with all of the skills that firefighters need.

“Going through the different techniques — running up the stairs, carrying and dragging the hose, it’s all a part of firefighter physical fitness,” said Jeremy King, a member of the Edwardsburg Fire Department who competed in the event. “So that’s what the challenge originally started out as, and they’ve taken it and made it a competition. They travel around, and they do the competitions just about every weekend in the summer throughout the U.S.”

The challenge took place in Michiana on June 15 and 16, with King and his teammates participating in the group competition. His teammates were fellow members of the Edwardsburg Fire Department Joseph Soltis, Jeremy King, Brandon Lovell and Tom Smith and Howard Township Fire Department member Ty Parker.

To compete, a person needs to either be a current or retired firefighter, and then they can sign up online to enter.

“Everyone has their own station that they do,” King said. “They also have individuals, so one person will run each station. It just depends on what group you sign up for.”

There are five different events that make up the competition. They are the High-Rise Pack Carry, the Hose Hoist, Forcible Entry, Hose Advance and Victim Rescue.

King and his team achieved a time of one minute and 54 seconds to complete all five challenges, which qualified them for the world competition in Sacramento, California in October.

Unfortunately, the team will be unable to attend.

“Being on a volunteer department, [it’s difficult] for everyone to get off and have personal time and travel to California,” he said. “It’s a week-long ordeal, so it’s a long process. As a volunteer department we can’t swing it.”

While the team cannot go to the world competition, it does not mean that they are any less excited about their accomplishment, and they plan on participating in the Scott Safety Firefighter Combat Challenge for years to come.

“Me and one of the other guys did it four years ago down in Indianapolis,” he said. “Then we skipped a year and then we did it last year and we did it again this year. We hope to keep doing it.”