Search and Rescue

Fire Event

Updated on April 1st, 2023

This event will consist of competitors conducting a primary search of an area set up as a maze. The competitor's challenge is to locate the baby and rescue the baby in a safe and timely manner. Tools/equipment will be placed randomly in the maze and competitors must memorize the items as they encounter them. Competitor will have to recite all tools/equipment they encountered during the search at the event completion. The maze entry and exit door/area will be the same. This event will encourage students to develop the physical, mental and sensory skills to conduct a successful search of an area under simulated zero visibility conditions in a manner that will challenge them in real-world firefighting scenarios.

Participant Limit Information

Special Note: Please note that this event has been changed to a co-ed event.

Dress Code

Competitors shall wear full protective bunker gear during the event. Protective bunker gear includes all items listed in the competitor supplies section. The bunker gear shall be appropriately fitted to the competitor (not overly big on the competitor). Competitors will not wear SCBA.

Materials

Competitors are required to provide the following materials for the duration of the competitive event. No additional materials may be used that are not in the material list.

• Photo Identification qt. 1

  Reference https://tpsa.info/policies for more information

• Fire bunker coat with liner and collar qt. 1

  (may be clips or velcro for closing)

• Fire bunker pants, liner and suspenders qt. 1
• Firefighting boots qt. 1
• Firefighting gloves qt. 1
• Firefighting protective hood qt. 1
• Firefighting helmet with protective ear flap, chin strap and visor qt. 1
• Training or non functional portable radio qt. 1

Policies

• Competitors in this event must be active members of the Texas Public Safety Association and in good standing with the Texas Public Safety Association.
• Competitors must be familiar with and adhere to the Texas Public Safety Association Bylaws and Code of Conduct.
• Plagiarism, copyright violation and falsification of information are prohibited. Any attempt to gain an unfair advantage will not be tolerated. Violation of the code of conduct or bylaws will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
• The scenario is a secret topic. Professional ethics demand that competitors DO NOT discuss or reveal the secret topic until after the event has concluded. Violation of the ethics rules will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
• Competitors are prohibited from breaking glass, windows, doors, etc, during the event. Such activity will result in a DQ and the competitor’s school being responsible for any damages.
• This is an individual co-ed event. Schools are allowed a maximum of three (3) competitors.
• The competitor will arrive to the event area in full bunker gear and the judge will inspect the competitor prior to entry.
• The maze entry and exit door/area will be the same.
• Competitors must use a crawling technique, standing up in the maze will result in disqualification.
• There is a sixteen (16) minute time limit for this event. Fifteen (15) minutes for Search and Rescue and one (1) minute for reciting items/equipment.
• The maze will consist of an 80 foot path with a minimum of two 90 degree turns. The maze will have at least one confined horizontal passible space to simulate a reduced corridor. Walls may be simulated with some type of solid barrier as needed (taped off areas are not sufficient to simulate a wall). The baby shall be pre-placed somewhere within the maze and shall be the same location for all competitors.
• There will be a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of eight (8) tools/equipment for the competitor to locate during the search. All items must be placed before the location of the baby.
• Locations of all items to be found in the maze shall be marked with tape on the floor to ensure items are in the same place for all competitors.

Procedures

1. Competitor will report to their respective event when called for or at a set reporting time.
2. Competitor must check in with event management upon arrival and present photo identification for verification.
3. Competitor will be directed (by room moderator) into the event room.
4. Instructions will be given (by room moderator) to the Competitor.
5. Upon the competitor’s arrival at the staging area, the event moderator will give them a brief overview of the information pertinent to the scenario. The scenario shall be the same for each team. No exceptions.
6. Moderator calls start and begins the timer.
7. Competitor will be stopped at the end of the fifteen (15) minute time limit by the event moderator if the competitor has not exited the maze with the baby.
8. After completing the maze the competitor will have one (1) minute to recite the tools/equipment he/she encountered during the search.
9. The moderator will provide the judge with the total event time and the judge will score the competitor, adding any penalties noted.
10. If competitor has not successfully completed the search within the fifteen (15) minute time frame, the competitor will receive a “Did Not Finish” (DNF) and be disqualified (DQ).

Staff Instructions

People

• Judgeqt. 2
• Managerqt. 1
• Moderatorqt. 1

Space/Location/Rooms

• A large dark room or multiple small dark connected rooms Indoor

Supplies

• Timer qt. 1
• Simulated walls qt. 1

  (ie: Tables, temp. Walls, solid material, etc)

• Open doorway or simulated doorway qt. 1
• Blacked out goggles if a darked out room(s) is/are not available qt. 1
• Tape qt. 1
• Tools/Equipment for maze qt. 1

  (ie: Sledge hammer, pick axe, flat head axe, rope, fire extinguisher, etc.)

• Baby mannequin or doll qt. 1
• Materials to black out room, if necessary qt. 1
• Rubric/Score Sheets qt. 1
• Writing Utensil qt. 1