Volunteer and career firefighters have battled it out in Hagley Park today in The South Island Firefighter Challenge.

Wearing full bunker gear and breathing from a breathing apparatus, competitors raced against each in a number of tasks including climbing up a 6 storey tower carrying a length of 70mm 19kg flaked hose, hoisting a 70mm hose coil 6 storeys, chopping using a 4kg shot hammer to drive a beam 1.5 metres.

They also had to carry a life sized dummy a distance of 30.5 metres.

The event was put on by the United Fire Brigades’ Association.