Organised by firefighters, for firefighters, the British Firefighter Challenge is an annual sporting event bringing the best teams from across the country to compete in a range of competitions designed to put their life-saving skills to the test.
Made up of 21 members, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service formed a top team to represent the county at the event held in Watford in July 2025 – coming out victorious for the third year in a row.
Not only proving they were the fastest team in the competition, they also topped the leaderboard when it came to fundraising, collecting more than £3,290 for the Fire Fighters Charity, dedicated to supporting fire and rescue staff past and present.
The Gloucestershire team also came first in both the male and female relays and first in the overall male contest, with a number of team members coming in the top three in their specific age groups, too.
Mark Preece, chief fire officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'I am very proud of the dedication, professionalism, determination and commitment shown by our Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service team during the challenge.
'Winning at this event for the third time in a row is a fantastic achievement and exemplifies the spirit of the service.'
Alongside attending emergencies, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, run by Gloucestershire County Council, offers helpful advice and tools to assist businesses and communities across the county to ensure they are operating with optimum safety, with the correct measures in place and in keeping with up-to-date legislation.
