THE revival of the Saipan Muster Challenge was a success as several teams — including the first-ever all-women’s group — and individuals recorded impressive completion times Saturday at the Airport Field.
While wearing a firefighter’s uniform, the participants had to go through six stations. These involved pulling a heavy hose line, carrying the hose line while zigzagging through cones, doing reps while holding the entire hose that was placed on their shoulders, spraying the hose, hammering down on metal, and dragging a mannequin that has the weight of a human body.
Team Beastmate, which consisted of Kelvin Fitial, Joshua Castro, Phil David, Shane Alvarez and Daniel Ogumoro, had the best time in the team category at 00:03:12. In their second attempt, they clocked 00:03:35.
Following behind was Team Youth Affairs Office consisting of Javin Okawa, Harry Moses, Jonas Okawa, Eloy Cruz and Mark Nique with a time of 00:03:54,
Team Fagaga Fighters’ Brad Ruszala, Simon Necesito, Jimmy Jecino and Phil Gases clocked 00:04:45 while Team Manhoben’s Ashton Cruz, Lance Sablan, Alexander Santos and Cheyenne Sablan recorded a finish time of 00:03:45.
Soloists
In the solo category, Firefighter Vince Torres led the pack with a time of 00:04:05. He was followed by Kelvin Fitial, 00:04:51; Javin Okawa, 00:05:24; Christy Aldan, 00:06:06; Luis Mario, 00:06:09; Jimmy Jecino, 00:06:26; Joshua Castro, 00:07:00; Cadet Michael Mancao, 00:07:38; and Simon Necesito, 00:09:14.
Demos
Prior to the relays and solos, the Commonwealth Ports Authority Aircraft Rescue Firefighting or ARFF personnel provided instructions to the participants.
A CPA ARFF demonstration team consisting of Firefighter and Team Captain Frankie Muna, Firefighter Oliver Igisair, Firefighter Brandon Lieto, Firefighter Hekido Helgen and Cadet Michael Mancao completed the relay with a time of 00:04:00.
The solo ARFF demo was completed by Firefighter David Camacho with a time of 00:04:28.
The ARFF demo featured the full eight station courses including donning the full firefighting gear and putting on the air pack. It took 60 seconds to be fully geared before one could advance the hose lines.
“This is a testament that our firefighters are ready to respond any time,” said ARFF Firefighter and event organizer Edward Dela Cruz Jr.
“It was a great turn out,” he added, “We were so happy we had so much support from our bosses at CPA and [the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services]…. It’s very rare for the fire services come together to hold an open house event like this and allow adults to use firefighting gear and shoot a hose line. Very rare.”
Dela Cruz added, “What every individual showed that day was that they had the heart and the strength to dig deep and overcome adversity. Every participant that day gained the respect of every firefighter on that field, especially our fire chiefs.”
Woman Power
Also participating was the first all-women team, Team Woman Power, which consisted of Kathy Ruszala, Evelyn Pangelinan, Leigh Gases, Tiffany Santos and Janika Taimanao who clocked 00:09:30.
“It was amazing to see a full team of women dominating the course and showing everyone that women are just as strong as men,” Dela Cruz said.
“It was just inspirational and we do need more women in the fire service here in the CNMI,” he added.
A total of 30 participants joined the Saipan Muster Challenge,
“I was surprised we had this many since the weather was really harsh Saturday what with the rain,” Dela Cruz said. “It really showed who had the guts to come and pull this off. The weather conditions were another great way for participants to show how they can overcome adversity. They did just as amazing as our professional firefighters. I’m sure the participants also gained a new profound respect for what we are capable of doing. Whoever wasn’t there really missed out on a great opportunity presented by the Fire Prevention Committee of DFEMS, CPA ARFF and the American Red Cross.”
A participant drags a mannequin during the Saipan Muster Challenge at the Airport Field on Saturday.
Evelyn Pangelinan drags a firehose through the obstacle course during the Saipan Muster Challenge at the Airport Field on Saturday.
The women’s team members pose for a photo before taking on the course during the Saipan Muster Challenge at the Airport Field on Saturday.
