Panabo hosts Firefighters Combat Challenge Trohpy and Miss Combat Challenge Crown

PANABO CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE April 22, 2015 - Scorching sunlight with occasional rainfall did not stop the participants from answering the Mayor James Gamao Inter-Industrial Combat Challenge at the Panabo City Parks and Plaza.

Seven fire fighter volunteer teams representing various industrial companies within the city responeded to the call. Each team is composed of fourteen male team members and one female muse, all of them had to undergo physically and mentally challenging trials that simulates real-life fire – fighting activities to the public.

“March is Fire Prevention Month and we do this to encourage the participation among industrial and barangay fire-fighting volunteers,” said Panabo Fire Marshal Vilner Avillon. “This is also one of the highlights of the 14th Araw ng Panabo and we would like to raise awareness on fire safety to the public.”

Organized by the Bureau of Fire Protection of Panabo City, the challenge is now modified to conform to regional standards, aims to test not only the fire fighting and rescue capabilities but also to evaluate the fitness of the volunteers.

The 1st challenge is the “Rescue and Transfer Relay”, in which teams race to transfer a victim, properly performing 6 types of different rescue carries at a distance of 160 feet per carrying style.

 “Combination of Busted Hose and Up-the-Ladder”, is the 2nd task where team members must hit and knock down metal targets using water stream after trouble-shooting the water hose’s connection. The last target must be toppled down while a member is up on a ladder while the other members are supporting the ladder stand.

In the 3rd task, “Fire Extinguishment,” in which the teams must use fire extinguishers to put off drums set on fire.

And the last task, the “Ladder Rescue” also known as “Singaporean Rescue”, teams must transport a makeshift dummy victim from a high location of a building to a safe ground using ropes and ladder.

The over – all champion is Dole – Panabo Wharf, garnering the shortest total time of eight minutes and eleven seconds (08:11:80) completing all tasks. Other volunteer teams who joined were from: TADECO, Dole – Panabo Container Yard, Innovaplas, ANFLOCOR, Gaisano Grand Mall of Panabo and Panabo Polymedic Hospital.

In the evening, after the physical challenges, the muse of each of the teams competed for the Miss Combat Challenge title, where their beauty and wits were showcased and tested. Panabo Fire Station Firetruck parking area and grounds were jampacked with spectators. Michelle Librado of Team Gaisano Grand Mall of Panabo was crowned Ms. Combat Challenge 2015.

Fire Marshal Avillon expressed his gratitude to Mayor James Gamao for his presence and support to the activities of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Panabo and for providing additional cash prizes for the contests. Also present during the event were BFP-XI Asst. Regional Director F/Supt Sydney Besana, Councilor Emmanuel Pamisaran, Councilor Wahid Ranain, DILG – Panabo CLGOO Danilo Hernandez and City Administrator Atty. Jamail Lunar Macla.

Avillon added that the winning team will compete in the Regional Firefighters Combat Challenge in Davao City next year.(Erick Etis – CIO / LGU-Panabo)