This year, the toughest firefighters will once again conquer the Ostrava Bolt Tower, for the twelfth time...
Organisers expect up to a hundred tough firefighters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia for this year's adrenaline-fueled TFA Ostrava Tower (TFA=The Toughest Firefighter Survives), which will take place on Wednesday, 18 June 2025. Traditionally held in the beautiful Lower Vítkovice area, the event will showcase the best of the Czech Republic in this exhausting competition. This "TFA" (TFA=Toughest Firefighter Alive) is considered the toughest competition of its kind in all of Europe. The parallel start of two competitors in full firefighting gear, including a heavy pressure cylinder and helmet, begins under the blast furnaces at 9:30 AM. A rich accompanying program will be prepared for children (e.g., a children's version of TFA) and adults, with the participation of emergency services (HZS MSK, PČR, MP OSTRAVA, RESCUE SAR MORAVA).
The finish line of the challenging adrenaline competition TFA Ostrava Tower is annually at the top of the Blast Furnace, named after the famous Jamaican sprinter Bolt Tower. Professional firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and women will compete. Women traditionally have the exact same course as men.
The ceremonial opening is scheduled for 9:00 AM, with the start of the first pair at 9:30 AM and the competition ending between 4 PM and 5 PM.
The course is set up in parallel for the simultaneous progress of two competitors and is divided into these four sections, with only short breaks in between:
Section Number 1
a) Discipline "Running with Fire Hoses" - deploying two hose lines with nozzles over a designated distance. The hoses are pre-prepared, folded into harmonicas in a designated area, each line consists of four connected hoses B 75 mm and nozzle B,
b) Discipline "Packing Two Hoses B" - rolling up two hoses B 75 and placing them into a box.
Section Number 2
a) Discipline "Hammer Box" - 100 strikes with a hammer in the hammer box (50 up, 50 down),
b) Discipline "Tunnel" - carrying a 20 kg weight through an obstacle with a reduced profile (tunnel) in both directions,
c) Discipline "Dummy" - grabbing the dummy from behind, known as the Rautek grip, and moving it a distance of approximately 70 meters,
d) Discipline "Barrier" - overcoming a barrier, jumping down, and running to the finish line.
Section Number 3
a) Discipline "Ladders" - carrying and setting up 4 extension ladders to the platform, lifting a load (2x rubber hose B) to the platform using a rope, and descending to the ground,
b) Discipline "Monitor" - connecting the nozzle to the monitor.
Section Number 4 - Competitors run from the start of the section to the Bolt Tower blast furnace.
