Fort Gordon firefighters watch themselves win

By Charmain Z. Brackett| Correspondent

Two months ago, Carmina Dobbins watched from a front-row seat as her husband, Anthony, and his teammates from Fort Gordon's Fire Department chalked up several victories at the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, she watched it again on the Versus cable network at the Pizza Joint in Evans with the team and other relatives and friends.

"It was just as exciting," she said.

Team members won in the tandem and relay categories, and Brandon Cunningham won his second consecutive individual title.

The competition involves a timed series of tasks related to a firefighter's duties, such as dragging a 175-pound mannequin to safety, climbing flights of stairs, and chopping and hoisting hoses while wearing full protective gear.

The group took up several tables in the front corner of the restaurant and could view the action on three television sets.

"This is really exciting to see everybody on TV," said Marcus Peterson, who has been part of Fort Gordon's combat challenge team since it began five years ago.

Team members cheered as the video of the wins rolled, drowning out the announcers' raves.

"I didn't get to hear anything," said Assistant Fire Chief Matt Williams, another founding team member. "I'm going to watch it again."

The Fort Gordon team fared well throughout the combat challenge season, winning at several regional meets before capturing the national title in Atlanta a week before the world event.

Mr. Williams said the team will begin training for the 2008 season in about two weeks.