Boca Raton’s Irena Elmstrom, left, placed first in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge U.S. Nationals with teammates Jacqueline Palmer, of Las Vegas, right, and Cheri Ardoin, of Lake Charles, La. in the Female Relay event. Photo provided by Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services Department
By Sallie James
Imagine running a race where the venue is a five-story tower. Now imagine doing the climb in 45 pounds of broiling bunker gear.
Up and down, as fast as you can go. Add hoisting, chopping, dragging a gigantic fire hose and rescuing a life-sized, 175-pound “victim,” and you have all the elements of a fearsome firefighter competition.
Boca Raton firefighter/paramedic Irena Elmstrom took top honors in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge U.S. Nationals in Texas in October. She also won a silver medal in the Firefighter Combat Challenge World Championships, which took place Oct. 23-28 in Louisville, Ky.
Elmstrom has been a firefighter for 15 years and has been competing for 14 years.
“I love it,” she said.
It’s a given that it’s sweltering business. Bunker gear is heavy and hot, and training in Florida isn’t easy.
Luckily, the gear used in competitions is lighter than standard firefighting gear because it doesn’t have as many pockets and extras as the gear used on normal duty. But it’s still really hot.
“It’s basically like a firefighting obstacle course,” Elmstrom said.
Elmstrom earned the following titles at the Oct. 5-7 event: U.S. National Co-Ed Tandem Champions (1:30:15), Female Tandem Champions (1:58:36) and Female Relay Champions (1:48).
Firefighters who competed with Elmstrom were David Bowman, of Charlotte, N.C. (Co-Ed Tandem); Jacqueline Palmer, of Las Vegas (Female Tandem and Female Relay); and Cheri Ardoin, of Lake Charles, La. (Female Relay).
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