News Release #32-48
City of Fort Pierce
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Contact: Joe Sweat, Communications Specialist
772.467.3031 | jsweat@cityoffortpierce.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Temporarily Closes Manatee Parking Lot for U.S. National Firefighter Challenge 2022
The City of Fort Pierce will be closing the Manatee Parking Lot and Boat Ramps from Monday, September 19th to Sunday, September 25th, 2022, to host the U.S. National Firefighter Challenge Championships powered by Indian River State College.
The City of Fort Pierce will once again host the 2022 U.S. National Championships Championship Firefighter Challenge in beautiful downtown Fort Pierce from Thursday, September 22nd through Saturday, September 24th, 2022.
The event will be in the parking lot of the Manatee Observation & Education Center, A.E Backus Museum & Art Gallery, and the 7 Gables House (480 N. Indian River Dr.). The boat ramp closure will begin on Monday, September 19th to prepare the grounds for the upcoming event.
The public is encouraged to attend this family-friendly event to witness the physical talents of these public safety professionals. Admission is free, the event will offer food trucks, vendor displays plus a miniature course built for Kids!
Residents and visitors are encouraged to park at the City Hall Parking Garage or other free designated areas that do not include Right-of-Way, curbs, median, and no parking zones such as striped or grassy areas which are prohibited. To learn more about parking or frequently asked questions concerning enforcement, please visit:
https://bit.ly/3bfd4ga About the U.S. National Firefighter Challenge 2022:
Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, in partnership with the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, St. Lucie County Office of Tourism, the St. Lucie County Fire District, the City of Fort Pierce, and Indian River State College worked with the First Responder Institute to secure the 2022 U.S. National Championships scheduled for September 22 - 24, 2022 in downtown Fort Pierce (480 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950). An estimated 200 women and men have earned the right to compete in the First Responder Institute’s Firefighter Challenge U.S. National Championships by qualifying from different Regional Sites across the country. For more event information visit, PlayTreasureCoastFlorida.com
The Firefighter Challenge, as seen on ESPN, encourages firefighter fitness plus demonstrates the profession’s rigors to the public. Wearing full gear, firefighters race head-to-head, individual, and tandem competitions, simulating the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the five-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses, and rescuing a life-sized, 175-pound “victim” as they race against themselves, their opponents and the clock.
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