The Firefighter Challenge League is gaining momentum worldwide as more firefighters turn to the competition to build strength, improve fitness and connect with a supportive emergency services community.
Known as the “toughest two minutes in sports,” the Firefighter Challenge League (FCL) is open to firefighters of all ages and experience levels, from juniors to retirees. The organization’s mission is to highlight the importance of physical fitness in a profession defined by intense physical demands.
“Our mission is to create a tool where firefighters can come and improve their fitness,” said Melissa Campbell, chief executive officer of the FCL, who is now in her 15th year with the organization.
The league stages events around the world and has seen participant numbers rise in recent seasons, including first-time competitors, long-standing members and three 70-year-old competitors.
“You’re going to see a lot of change in the FCL,” Campbell told Firehouse. “This isn’t just a U.S. thing. It’s a worldwide thing. We have events that are happening all over the world.”
At its 2026 season-opening event at FDIC, the FCL recorded a 39-registrant increase among existing members and welcomed 70 additional first-time competitors.
One of those newcomers was Firefighter Carly Wopat of the Santa Barbara, California, Fire Department, who broke both the California state record and the national female record with a time of 2:35.82 in her first race.
Recent event-specific increases include:
The league has also added 46 new female competitors in the past two years, while male participation has nearly doubled over the same period. Competitors now represent 44 states and 364 fire departments across the United States.
Competing in the FCL is physically and mentally demanding, with firefighters applying core job-related skills in a high-intensity competitive environment. But for many participants, the strongest draw is the community that forms around the course.
The course gives firefighters a clear focus for improving physical and mental fitness, while also offering a support network for competitors regardless of experience level or race time.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the community and how supportive everyone was,” Wopat recalled. “Everyone was so positive and genuinely excited for me. Being able to chat with everyone about how to improve my time, the different stations and techniques, that’s the biggest benefit to going and racing.”
Firefighters Andi Barrickz of the Minneapolis Fire Department and Alexander Elliot of the Parris Island, South Carolina, Fire Department, said that sense of support was central to their first FCL experiences.
“The community part drives me more than the physical part,” Barrickz said. “That’s what hooked me, the people. The people there are so good. The whole crew, the officials and the announcer, everybody is so supportive and encouraging.”
“It doesn’t matter your weight, your age,” said Elliot, who started racing in his 30s. “Don’t be afraid of whatever you’re thinking about, because the amount of love you get from everyone there is insane.”
Barrickz said she attended an open practice before her first race in June 2025 and was guided through the course by two female firefighters who offered advice on each station and how to approach the competition.
“While I competed, they were both screaming for me, cheering for me, and I don’t even know these people,” Barrickz told Firehouse. “That turned out to be like all the people who compete at the FCL events.”
For many competitors, that support continues after the first race. Whether the goal is to finish the course, cut 10 seconds from a personal best or break a state record, participants say the league’s community helps push them forward.
Even in a competitive setting, firefighters often describe the FCL as a shared challenge rather than an individual contest.
“One of the guys that I raced with at Nationals, Blake Christensen, he goes, ‘I’m not racing against you; I’m racing with you,’” Elliot said.
For newcomers, the difficulty of the race can be hard to judge until they step onto the course. Competitors said the challenge is often harder than expected, but many become committed to returning after their first attempt.
“They see where they’re at, and whether they finished or whether they’ve set a record, they are determined to come again, do better, and create those goals,” Campbell said.
Barrickz, Wopat and Elliot all described their first races as humbling experiences. Even after watching videos, training and seeking advice, they said the course demanded more than expected.
“We try to let people know the first time: don’t blow up those stairs,” Campbell said. “Pace yourself. You’re not competing with anyone but yourself.”
Although entering a competition can feel like a major commitment, first-time competitors said the experience offers significant personal and professional value.
“You have nothing to lose,” Wopat said. “It’s only a win-win situation. I’m a big proponent of doing hard things, and I think the firefighter challenge is both mentally and physically demanding. You’re going to make friends and meet so many amazing firefighters who are also into fitness and pushing themselves.”
“If you’re thinking about it, do it,” Barrickz said. “You’re never going to feel like you’re ready, because it’s hard, no matter what. You need to just go ahead and go for it. You really have nothing to lose.”
“Never be embarrassed by your time, because you’re the person who is going to harp on your time more than anyone else there,” Elliot said. “This course is truly for anybody who wants to come out, be competitive, or be a part of this family, because it truly is a family. It’s literally for everybody.”
As the FCL grows, more firefighters are being introduced to a competition that combines functional fitness, mental resilience and peer support. Participants train for a shared goal while building bonds with firefighters from departments across the country and around the world.
“Fitness has equaled health and longevity in this career,” Campbell said. “It’s a career that takes a toll on the body. The stronger you can develop on this course, the better you get your mindset on what your body’s capable of over a controlled load.”
For competitors, the course is not only about getting fitter. It is also about developing the mindset needed to perform under pressure and continue improving in a physically demanding profession.
“You can also be like the fittest person ever, but if you don’t have the mental integrity, it’s going to be hard to get through,” Barrickz said.
The FCL’s growth reflects a wider appetite among firefighters for fitness-focused competition, practical skills development and a community that supports competitors at every stage of their journey.
