Carlsbad prepares to host the Firefighter Combat Challenge in August

Carlsbad’s Firefighter Combat Challenge will be taking place downtown, in partnership with the Carlsbad MainStreet Project, on Aug. 26 and 27, but a very special charity relay challenge has also been set up. Chevron is sponsoring this event and fundraiser.

Beginning this year, local groups can compete against each other in a slightly easier version of the firefighter combat challenge course to raise money for a local nonprofit. Carlsbad is one of only six communities in the country who is hosting this Charity Relay Challenge. The cost to register is $125. Teams will use an assigned crowdfunding platform to raise money for their designated charities.

To sign up, please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NM/Carlsbad/CharityRelayChallengeCarlsbadNM. More information on the charity challenge itself is available at https://charityrelaychallenge.org/.

Carlsbad has a great history of involvement in the Firefighter Combat Challenge, which features a series of skills designed to represent various obstacles firefighters may have to overcome while going about their duties. Our competitive teams with the Carlsbad Fire Department have broken records and won world championships. We’re honored to play a role in this new feature of the combat challenge. This year’s event will also include performances by several local bands. We look forward to attending.

Recently, members of our law enforcement community participated in a town hall meeting to discuss ways to help prepare for active shooter encounters. As one of the responses, Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage is now hosting an event called “Operation Hard Target,” which will consist of training sessions offered twice a month designed to empower the citizens of Eddy County with emergency preparedness information. Training is open to individuals, businesses, schools, faith groups and civic organizations. Topics covered include lessons learned from previous shooter events; the Run, Hide, Fight Response; and what information should be given to 911 dispatchers. Trainers will also discuss the importance of a survival mindset. The first training session for individuals will be held on Saturday, July 30 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Thank you to Sheriff Cage and the Sheriff’s Department for setting this up. For more information, please visit www.co.eddy.nm.us/505/Sheriff or call Sgt. Gracie Gonzales at 575-887-7551.

More music in Carlsbad - Teaching Artist & Performer Aspen Black will be performing an all-ages concert “Sing of the Sea” at 10 a.m. July 19 at the Carlsbad Public Library. Aspen will also be conducting a teen activity, “Waves of Sound,” at 2 p.m. Sounds like another great family activity.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad prepares to host the Firefighter Combat Challenge in August