For the past century, firefighters in the outback town of Longreach have been testing their mettle by competing in a series of trials. They tear down the main street in a 1934 vintage Dennis fire engine, before racing to complete timed challenges in front of a crowd of spectators. The firies say it's the last event of its kind in Australia, one that has survived World War II and the covid pandemic.
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00:00Blazing down the main street, for a century-old tradition.
00:09Once a year, firefighters in Longreach compete in a series of challenges dubbed the Fire
00:14Trials, designed to put the fireys to the test and bring an outback town together.
00:20Very good competition, great sportsmanship amongst the crew, good times, no swearing
00:27which is pretty good.
00:29It's a practice passed down through generations.
00:32I've got my grandson, I've got my son and my son-in-law, so it's been a real privilege
00:36running with them.
00:37It was a really big thing for us as a firefighting family to come down and watch dad and grandad
00:44and eventually uncle compete and had a lot of town folk excited for this time of year.
00:52They use a vintage Dennis fire engine, which went out of commission decades ago, but has
00:58been used for the Fire Trials since 1937.
01:01Tired firefighters from across Queensland have come back to Longreach to celebrate this
01:05event.
01:06Many of them, like the kids behind me, grew up watching this event and went on to compete
01:10themselves.
01:12Some carried the hose for the last time, while future firefighters watched on.
01:17Who's excited to watch the Fire Trials?
01:19Me!
01:20The memories they make, it's just, yeah, I love it.
01:27Daddy hosed him.
01:31On a hot night, the last event was the most anticipated.
01:35It was cold but fun.
01:40It was really amazing and I think it was really fun, except for that part where my sister
01:50slapped me on the belly.
01:52Cooled down, but all fired up.