Oregon firefighter goes to world competition

HELIX, Ore. — Kyle Bryant never expected to be on the world stage. It’s all still a bit surreal for the Helix firefighter who never intended to compete in the first place.

This month, he heads to Las Vegas for the Scott’s Firefighter Combat Challenge as a member of a relay team that will climb, hoist, chop, spray and drag their way around an obstacle course. He will join other firefighters who qualified at one of 25-plus locations throughout the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia and France.

It all went down like this, Bryant said:

The father of six had volunteered to help out at the firefighter competition held Aug. 30-31 in Pendleton. At the Pendleton Convention Center parking lot, competitors would complete five tasks designed to simulate the rigors of firefighting. They could compete individually, as duos or in 5-man teams.

Bryant, who volunteers with both Helix and East Umatilla County fire departments, helped reset the course after each run. As he worked, he got to know some of the other firefighters. A couple of them approached Bryant about putting together a relay team.

“They came up to me and said, ‘Hey, we want to do a five-man relay just for fun. Would you mind being our fifth guy?”’ Bryant recalled.

Bryant was game, though he didn’t have firefighting gear with him. The 37-year-old borrowed turnouts, helmet and air tank.

His leg came third after the guy who lugged a hose pack five stories up a tower (that was attached to a trailer in the parking lot). Another teammate pulled hose hand-over-hand from the ground to the top of the tower and raced down the stairs. Bryant grabbed a rubberized hammer and banged the end of a 165-pound I-beam until it moved five feet. The next teammate completed a serpentine course, picked up a charged hose, ran and sprayed a target. The last hefted a 175-pound dummy and ran backward to the finish line.

After an anemic 2-minute-30-second effort, they regrouped for another try in the 95-degree heat. To qualify for worlds, they had to complete the course in 2 minutes, 2 seconds or faster, but that possibility wasn’t even on their radar.

“That was the farthest thing from our minds,” Bryant said. “We just wanted to do better.”

Near the end of the second run, the announcer commented that the team had a chance of qualifying. As the last man crossed the finish line, the clock read 1 minute, 58 seconds, punching their ticket to Las Vegas. The five firefighters looked at each other in stunned disbelief.

“It took a couple days to sink in,” Bryant said.

When it finally did, he started raising the money for the Nevada trek, figuring needs $1,000 to $1,500 and planning a local $5 spaghetti dinner to raise it.

Bryant, who works security at Wildhorse Casino, said he was unsure about how to prepare for the event since he never trained originally.

“I’ve been watching a lot of videos on YouTube and observing people who set the records,” he said. “It’s all been a blur.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

A trash hauler from Republic Services. (Provided photo)
Growing Teamsters strike disrupts garbage pickup in Snohomish County

Republic Services said a temporary work stoppage is causing some customers in the county to experience “temporary service delays.”

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

‘Courageous’ teen dives into Silver Lake to rescue 11-year-old

Gauge Bryant, 13, brought the child to the surface. The 11-year-old is in stable but critical condition, authorities said.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.