IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE | April 16, 2024

Birmingham, AL – Two exciting, action-packed sporting events are converging in Birmingham, Alabama in 2025! For the first time in its 33-year history, the TFT® Firefighter Challenge will be hosted as an official sport in the 2025 World Police & Fire Games.

“We are honored to be collaborating with the World Police & Fire Games”, says Russell A. Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of the First Responder Institute. “The admiration we have for their incredible sporting event goes without saying, and to give firefighters around the world an opportunity to experience the best of what both organizations offers is very exciting.”

The Birmingham Host Committee for the 2025 World Police & Fire Games is thrilled to announce this partnership as well. "Once again the Birmingham Host Committee for the 2025 World Police & Fire Games is excited to partner with Russell Jackson and his team. Bringing the Southeast Regional Classic to compete alongside the world's First Responders will be an incredibly exciting first-time addition to the WPFG," said DJ Mackovets, CEO of the 2025 World Police & Fire Games.

Firefighters in the SERVPRO® Firefighter Challenge League (FCL) will converge in the Greater Birmingham Area to compete in the 2025 Southeast Regional Classic of the TFT® Firefighter Challenge Championship Series, during the course of the BHM 2025 World Police & Fire Games. The public will have a front row seat to witness the physical talents of these public safety professionals in action on the LION® Arena of the Brave challenge course, deemed by ESPN as ‘the toughest two minutes in sports.’

Competitors from the designated Southeast states of the FCL will be vying for Southeast titles and records while firefighters from anywhere in the world will be vying for overall honors. “Many of our incredible firefighter athletes train year-round to not only perform at their best in this competition but to also be at their best when responding to your 911 emergency”, said Jackson. “This is their opportunity to have fun, earn some bragging rights for their fire department, and to help inspire the next generation of firefighters.”

TFT® Firefighter Challenge competitors will have an early glimpse into all that Birmingham has to offer during the 2024 Firefighter Challenge US Nationals at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, to be held September 25 – 28, 2024 in Hoover, Alabama. Firefighters will run the job skills-based course tackling what are known as the Five Essential Functions™ wearing full turnout gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus provided by 3M™ Scott Fire & Safety. Participants have three main categories to compete in: individual, tandem (2-person), and relay (3-5 person). Competitions simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by climbing the five-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses, and rescuing a life-sized, 175-pound “victim” as they race against themselves, their opponents, and the clock.

EVENT INFO: 2025 BHM World Police & Fire Games, June 27 – July 6, 2025

LOCATION:  Greater Birmingham Area, Alabama, USA

MEDIA CONTACTS: 2025 BHM World Police & Fire Games, Director of Marketing & Communications: Jessie Barnhill, jessie@BHM2025.com Firefighter Challenge Representative: Russell A. Jackson, 205-936-336