PHOTOS: Oregon Fire Department Hosts Kids' Firefighter Challenge | News

Playground equipment gave participants in Thursday’s Firefighter challenge a chance to experience what it feels like to carry a hose up a ladder and spray water from a platform.

On Thursday, July 21, the Oregon Fire Department hosted more than 100 kids in a Firefighter Challenge, in which participants put their firefighting skills to the test with an obstacle course, water delivery techniques, fire hose handling, and more at Netherwood Knoll Elementary.

See photos from Thursday's event here:

Alex Marks (right), Oregon’s Community Education & Recreation Supervisor, checks in one of more than 100 kids who participated in Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge. Participants put their firefighting skills to the test with an obstacle course, water delivery techniques, fire hose handling, and more.

Members of Oregon’s Community Education & Recreation summer camps wait for Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge held near Netherwood Knoll Elementary.

Oregon firefighters wait for the Firefighter Challenge to begin.

Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge included an obstacle course built with hoops, stones, chutes, and hurdles. Running through the hoops proved to be the best technique.

This nylon chute simulated the skills sometimes needed to tunnel through debris or tight spaces while fighting a house fire. An obstacle course was one of several stations during Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge.

This excited future firefighter charges through the last of the hoops in Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge obstacle course.

This future firefighter shows she has what it takes to climb or jump over fallen objects while fighting a house fire. Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge included an obstacle course with hurdles, hoops, and other tests.

Playground equipment gave participants in Thursday’s Firefighter challenge a chance to experience what it feels like to carry a hose up a ladder and spray water from a platform.

A team of future firefighters learn how to hold a firehose during OSDCER’s Firefighter Challenge on Thursday.

These young firefighters learned standing behind the nozzle of a firehose doesn’t guarantee you’ll stay dry when fighting a fire. Fortunately, the water was a welcome respite to the afternoon heat on Thursday.

This future firefighter attempts to keep control of a firehose during Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge.

Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge included a mechanical house that “caught on fire” so firefighters could experience how difficult it can be to aim a fire hose at the correct spot when trying to get a fire under control.

Aiming a fire hose at the correct spot to stop a fire takes strength and concentration. Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge included opportunities to hold and spray a fire hose.

A future fire fighter concentrates as she uses a high pressure water hose to spray the “flames” on a simulated house fire on Thursday.

High temperatures on Thursday afternoon made the OSDCER’s Firefighter Challenge even more exciting thanks to the cold water rushing from a fire hose.

A crew of fire fighters work in tandem to keep a fire hose under control during Thursday’s Firefighter Challenge.

A group of firefighters work to regain control of their high pressure water hose on Thursday. The OSDCER’s Firefighter Challenge gave participants a chance to put their skills to the test.