About 1 blk from our hotel in Asheville, they were having a Fireman's Combat competition.  The contestants have about 120 lbs of gear on, run up the 5 story of stairs (previous picture) lower hose down on a rope, down the stairs, hammer a steel block weighing 50 lbs with a sledge hammer (simulating chopping thru a roof), charge the hose and hit a target with the stream and then haul a 175 lb "Rescue Randy" 100 feet to the finish line.  All the time wearing full turn outs and a Scott Airpac.  The guy with the gray T shirt (kneeling) is a 2 time WORLD champion with a time of 1 minute, 22 secs!  The competition is very intense and is participated in by hundreds of dept's throughout the U.S.  The best then go to the world championships competing with firemen throughout the world.  There is sponsorship by several large corps that manufacture fire fighting equipment.