Hibriten Firefighter Academy Cadets Smoke the Competition

Students from the Hibriten Fire Fighter Academy Captain Preston Hawkins of West Caldwell High School; Captain Brice Bennett, South Caldwell High School; and Firefighter Hunter Vines also from West Caldwell win three of the Top 5 spots in the North Carolina SkillsUSA firefighting competition.

Preston Hawkins (student volunteer firefighter at Gamewell Fire Department) won the Intermediate Firefighting Competition at the statewide competition held in Greensboro. Brice Bennett (student volunteer firefighter at Granite Falls Fire Department) placed 3rd, and Hunter Vines (student volunteer firefighter at North Catawba Fire Department) placed 4th.

"As their Chief, I am extremely proud of these young men for stepping up and accepting this challenge to compete in the Skills USA firefighter competition,” said Hibriten High Academy Chief and Instructor Sam Smith. “To place 1st, 3rd and 4th in the state says volumes about their commitment to their future chosen profession.”

The firefighters had five categories of competition: Rapid Dress, Ropes & Knots and Tool Raise, Hose Drag, Equipment Carry, and Ladder Raise. Participants with the most overall points were declared the Top 5 finishers.

Preston Hawkins, Champion, and Brice Bennett, 3^rd place finisher, will be recognized by the Board of Education on Monday, May 8, 6 pm at the Education Center.