Fourth of July, 2008. While wearing full Bunker Gear and Breathing Apparatus, Firefighters participating in "The Challenge" simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the 3-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. "victim" as they race against themselves and the clock. This grueling race has been called "The Toughest 5 minutes in Sports". Here, FF Richard Gomez simulates ventilation by moving a steel block down a metal tray with a 6-lb, rubber covered sledgehammer.