June 7, 2008 at Permian Basin Regional Training Center, 1400 Commerce Dr., Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220

The Firefighter Combat Challenge is an embodiment of the essence of firefighting, an urgent race against time. Time is the mortal enemy of firefighters, since fire doubles in size every 90 seconds. The Challenge is a spirited, friendly competition that demonstrates to the outside world the nature of the job, the levels of fitness required to perform the job and the kind of people who will put themselves in harm’s way to protect life and property.

The Challenge attracts hundreds of U.S. and Canadian municipal fire departments each year in approximately 25 locations and is seen by more than 30 million people worldwide. In addition to the Challenge, OnTarget will hold a “Kid’s Challenge”, a miniature version of the real thing. this will be the centerpiece of the “Safety First Family Expo”, which will be set up at fairs, festivals, and fire conventions across the country.

The Safety Expo will provide thousand of children with the opportunity to receive safety training through fun, family-oriented activities. Fire prevention education and general safety education will be provided through this interactive community event. Our efforts in fire safety education are important, particularly in light of the alarming statistics on childhood fatalities and fire. Annually, more kids die in fires than all childhood diseases combined.