Tim Dines practices on the Keiser sled prior to next week's Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge World Championships in Nevada. Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett Although they didn't fare as well as they would have liked in the national competition, Fort Gordon's firefighters have a positive attitude heading into the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge World Championships next week in Las Vegas.

"We've come close to the world record in the relay. We have a lot going for us. We made quite a few mistakes at nationals but still finished second," said Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Williams, who fell during the relay event and dislocated his thumb in Atlanta last month.

The firefighter challenge is a series of skills firefighters use in their daily jobs such as climbing a tower with a fire hose and dragging a life-sized mannequin to safety. The Fort Gordon team has competed since 2003, and last year, the team won the relay and tandem events. Fort Gordon firefighter Brandon Cunningham won his second straight world individual title.

The six men are hoping for a repeat of last year's performance, but with a few exceptions.

"We want to set a new world record," said Tim Dines, the newest member of the team. He came to the department from Owensboro, Ky., where he was Cunningham's training partner several years ago.

The tandem team of Cunningham and Anthony McMurtry broke the world record in that event earlier this season in a competition in Massachusetts.

Also the team would like to snag first place in the team division.

"There isn't any reason we can't win in the team," said Williams, who has a personal goal to place in the top three in the chief's division. He finished fourth in that category in worlds last year.

The firefighters head to Las Vegas on Monday. The competition is Tuesday through Saturday; more than 1,000 firefighters from the United States and New Zealand, England, Canada and Germany are expected to compete.

The competition will be aired on the Versus network after the event is completed.