Members of the police and fire departments from the city of Clarksdale and Coahoma County got together Friday for the first-ever Fireman’s Challenge.
The event, held at the Clarksdale Fire Department on Desoto Avenue, was similar to the grueling, physical test that candidates must pass in order to become a firefighter.
In Friday’s event, participants had to strap on a 75-pound weighted vest and then walk for three minutes on a Stairmaster. They then had to drag a fire hose and carry two extrication tools weighing about 30 pounds each. The final part of the challenge was to carry a 180-pound dummy some 25 yards.
The event provided plenty of laughs and fun as city and county leaders also took part, including commissioner Ken Murphey, Sheriff Charles Jones, Police Chief Sandra Williams and Mayor Chuck Espy.
“It was really a wonderful opportunity to come together,” Espy said prior to competing in the event.
Jerry Mills, chief of the Coahoma County Fire Department, won the event. Placing second was county firefighter Hunter Rybolt, while Clarksdale Police officer Kenny Harris II was third. Derrick Harris, an investigator with the sheriff’s office, was fourth and Clarksdale Police officer Johnny Jones was fifth.
