362nd TRS wins inaugural Firefighters Olympics Published Oct. 12, 2010 By Mike McKito 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Eight teams of five people competed in the Inaugural Firefighter Olympics Oct. 8, culminating the annual Fire Prevention Week at Sheppard AFB. Rod Ryalls, Sheppard Air Force Base Fire Department assistant fire chief, said the intent of the event was to allow the teams to experience what a fireman must be ready and able to do in their daily routine. "We hoped to develop an appreciation for the job that firefighters do in supporting their communities," he said. The squadron teams participated in five categories. The fastest team completing all five events was crowned the winner. In the first event, teams had to put on all firefighting gear in a bunker drill. After putting on the gear, they dragged a 200-foot charged fire hose line its complete length and discharged the water. Next, teams had to fill up a 55-gallon drum with water and race to the fire 200-feet away in an event called the bucket brigade. The final two events included a dummy drag. Each member had to drag a training dummy to safety 100 feet away. Finally, teams had to push a ball hanging the entire length of a high wire by discharging fire hose. "Everyone who participated had fun and learned a lot," Mr. Ryalls said. The team from the 362nd Training Squadron had the fastest cumulative time for all events. The team was comprised of Airmen 1st Class Matthew Quillen, Patrick Soderland, Nicholas Souza, Ryan Eisenach and Matthew Eisenach. Mr. Ryalls said the plan is to make the firefighter olympics an annual event.