The Christiansburg Volunteer Fire Department attended the 73rd Annual Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association Conference in Kingsport, TN, from June 13-16. Part of the conference is a training competition, where individuals attempt to be the fastest at successfully completing routine firefighter tasks. This year, Christiansburg took home 13 individual titles and one department-wide award.
In the challenge to put on boots, helmets and coats with buttons snapped in the fastest time, Mike Hutchison took first and Forest Redd took second place. The second fastest firefighter over 50 years of age to complete this task was Todd Chrisley. The three-person team version of this task was won by Mike Hutchison, Forest Redd and Potsie Smith, with the team composed of Scott Phillips, John Linkous and Nathan Brewbaker coming in second.
Similarly, the category to put on, zip and velcro helmets, coats and boots the quickest was a shutout by Christiansburg volunteers: Mike Hutchison in first, Forest Redd in second and Potsie Smith in third.
Christiansburg swept another competition where the contestants must put on air-packs while in full gear. These winners were Forest Redd in first, Scott Phillips in second and John Linkous in third.
John Linkous also took first, with Scott Phillips taking second, in the competition for who can uncouple two couplings from a hose and apply a nozzle the fastest.
As a department, Christiansburg won the sportsmanship trophy.
