Firefighters train intensely to always be ready to respond when disasters strike. The strongest among them will gather in Odense this June to compete for the titles of the fastest firefighter on the FireFit course in Denmark.

Time is critical when emergency services race to rescue those in need. This is why firefighters around the globe dedicate themselves to rigorous training, enabling them to respond as quickly as possible. Running into a burning building, equipped with 20 kilograms of smoke diving gear, heavy hoses aware they can be the difference between life and death for those trapped, demands immense physical and mental resilience.

Simon Nielsen, a firefighter in the Special Services Unit of Copenhagen Fire Department, is no stranger to the importance of physical fitness. However, his training regime goes beyond the norm. Together with his partner, Niels Oluf Lausen, Simon is striving to better their best time at the course —a task that earned the duo the title of Danish champions when the FireFit competition was held in Denmark in 2023.

“The training for FireFit aligns closely with our job. Maintaining excellent physical fitness provides us with the stamina we need, so ahead of the 2023 FireFit competition in Odense, we focused our training on this event,” says Simon Nielsen. In his first FireFit competition, Simon and his partner only competed in the Danish Championship.

Now, Simon and firefighters from all over Europe will again have the chance to claim the top spot on the podium when Danske Beredskaber (Danish Emergency Services) and FireFit Europe host the FireFit Championships for European and Danish firefighters on the course in Odense.

The event will coincide with the annual meeting of Danske Beredskaber, held at and around the Odense Congress Center on June 3 and 4, 2025.

Scandinavia’s largest emergency services expo

The annual meeting of Danske Beredskaber is Scandinavia’s largest emergency services expo, gathering more than 1,000 firefighters. Julia Simon, Corporate Communications Specialist for FireFit, looks forward to rolling out the firehoses in Denmark once again. Starting this January, firefighters across Europe can sign up and start preparing to run the 45-meter-long FireFit course and experience the camaraderie of the competition.

“The FireFit Championships in Odense will mark one of the first events in the FireFit Europe calendar 2025. Everybody is excited to get the season started again. We are very happy to return to Denmark, meet again some competitors that already participated here and welcome new firefighters on the course,” says Julia Simon.

The event is organized by Danske Beredskaber, the political organization for Denmark’s primary emergency services, and here Secretariat Manager Bjarne Nigaard is excited for FireFit’s return to Denmark.

“We’re delighted to include FireFit in our 2025 annual meeting. Beyond being excellent entertainment for attendees and a thrilling sport for competitors, FireFit sends a strong message. It highlights our commitment as firefighters to constant improvement, maintaining physical fitness, and honing our skills,” says Bjarne Nigaard.

Bjarne Nigaard emphasizes that the participants’ dedication improves their readiness and ensures better protection for colleagues and the citizens they serve.

Training for the FireFit Challenge

For Simon Nielsen, preparations will begin in earnest this January. Alongside his regular training at the fire station behind Copenhagen’s City Hall and his duties as a high-angle rescuer, dive rescuer, and part of the SIKS (Special Operations in Critical Situations) task force, Simon commits to 8–10 hours of additional cardio and strength training weekly. This includes up stairs running in full firefighting gear.

“We train during shifts, but that’s not enough—you need energy for the job too,” Simon explains. He views FireFit competitions as highly relevant in his work as a firefighter.

A 45-meter test of strength and endurance

When the start horn sounds at FireFit competitions, two competitors face off, aiming to conquer a series of five grueling obstacles on the 45-meter course.

Clad in full firefighting gear, including a mask and air supply, competitors first climb 12 meters of stairs carrying a 19-kilogram hose. At the top, they must hoist another 19-kilogram hose using only a rope and upper body strength. After descending the stairs at full speed, they face the “Force Machine,” where they strike a heavy steel beam with a sledgehammer to move it 25.4 centimeters. From there, they run a slalom course carrying a water-filled hose to a simulated door, and accurately spray water at a fixed target. Finally, they drag an 80-kilogram rescue dummy, “Rescue Randy,” across the last 30 meters over the finish line—all in under two minutes.

“You’re active for less than two minutes, but it’s an explosion of effort. The training is all about shaving off seconds. What’s great is that it mirrors our work—running with hoses, hitting targets with water, climbing stairs, and rescuing an 80-kilogram dummy,” says Simon Nielsen.

A unique community and international Ambition

Simon Nielsen first turned his work into a sport in 2023 when he and Niels Oluf Lausen competed in the Berlin Stair Run, climbing 39 floors to the top of the Radisson Hotel on Alexander Platz. Of 400 participants worldwide, the Danish pair finished second – a feature they repeated in 2024. After winning the Danish FireFit Championship in 2023, they earned a spot at the FireFit World Championships in Canada.

“To excel internationally, you need to master every detail. How do you hoist a hose faster? What’s the best way to drag the dummy? These small optimizations made a big difference,” says Simon.

Competing in Canada allowed them to refine their techniques, gain valuable insights from the international group of firefighters, and forge lasting friendships.

Eyes fixed on the title

As Simon Nielsen and his peers gear up for the European and Danish Championships in Odense, his ambitions remain clear:

“Winning the title is the priority – personal records come second. Our training is more focused than ever, and I fully expect us to win the Danish Championship again while competing in the European Championship. But the competition is getting tougher, so we need to improve our game to stay on top,” says Simon Nielsen.

The FireFit competition is open only to certified firefighters, but on June 3 and 4, the public is invited to witness Simon Nielsen and his colleagues battle for the titles of Denmark’s and Europe’s strongest firefighters on the course in Odense.

Learn more about the FireFit challenge in Odense. 

Article by Jakob Tilma, Danske Beredskaber jti@danskeberedskaber.dk