Travis firefighters remain ‘team to beat’ Published Aug. 11, 2006 By Jennifer Brugman 60th AMW Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Travis firefighters continued to dominate during the Fremont Festival of the Arts Firefighter Combat Challenge in Fremont, Calif. Saturday. "They did exceptional," said Mr. John Speakman, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief. "There was a lot of the main competition that we'll face at the world. Freemont's a very popular competition." The Travis team won the World Firefighter Combat Challenge team competition in 2004 and 2005. With the win in Fremont, they are posed to make it a three-peat. "For me, coming into this group is an honor, just trying to keep up with them is going to make me a better firefighter and athlete in general," said Mr. Aldrico Caragan, 60th CES captain firefighter. "I honestly think we're the team to beat." However, Chief Speakman is cautiously optimistic about the world competition. "The chances are very good [of winning world]," he said. "They're focused. They train hard but there're some very good competitors out there. There are teams out there laying in wait for them." Firefighter combat challenges test firefighters on techniques and skills they use during real world fire emergencies. They compete in events such as climbing a five-story tower, dragging hoses and rescuing a 175-pound dummy 'victim.' "The team is monstrous," Chief Speakman said. "It isn't who's the biggest guy out there -- there's a lot of technique involved." Travis' technique served them well as they came within two seconds of breaking the world record in the relay event. However, that record is the one Travis set last year. "I can almost guarantee the relay team will take the world competition," Chief Speakman said. Another strong competitor is Shenah Groom, 60th CES engineer, who took first place in the individual female competition with a time of 3:15.70. The U.S. National Champions Firefighter Combat Challenge is Nov. 7 in Clayton County, Ga.