THE Saipan Muster Challenge on Saturday at the Airport Field will allow participating individuals and teams to do everything a firefighter should do — from pulling a hose line, to dragging a victim, shooting at targets, smashing them with a hammer to simulate forcible entry, and carrying heavy loads while wearing firefighter gear.
“Guam has always done a muster challenge and I think it’s time the CNMI starts its own competition,” said Edward Dela Cruz Jr., a firefighter with the airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting or ARFF department.
However, he said, Saturday’s event is not a competition, but an exhibition.
“This is entirely for the public to understand the bare minimum of what we expect from them in the fire service — it’s our outreach for Fire Prevention Month.” Dela Cruz said.
Individuals and teams will be timed, but “there are no official prizes this year — it’s not a competition,” he reiterated.
“It’s for people to get a chance to use the gear and actually shoot a hose line because we do not allow anyone to handle our equipment,” he said. Participants will be closely monitored and guided.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entry is free.
“This will probably be easy for the relay teams but for the solo participants the challenge is to just complete it. It’s going to be very tough,” Dela Cruz said.
Airport firefighters work together to put out a fire during a drill on Saipan.
