Tech. Sgt. Cory McGee, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron, Combat Challenge Team lead from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., hoists a 45-pound hose up the five-story tower, in the coed tandem team course run during the Firefighter Combat Challenge, Nov. 20 in Las Vegas. Sergeant McGee and Senior Airman Meghan Melanson, 509 Civil Engineer Squadron, placed fourth in the world among Air Force teams during the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Carlin Leslie)

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo., -- Team Whiteman firefighters are ranked as the best in the Air Force, following the five-day 2009 Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge in Las Vegas.

Thousands of firefighters from more than 600 fire departments, around the world competed in an array of events.

Team Whiteman ranked first among Air Force teams in team-individual competition and 16th in the world. The team ranked No. 1 among Air Force teams and fourth in the world in the coed tandem competition.

Although not overly satisfied with its accomplishments, the team is looking forward to improving times in next year's competition.

"I think we worked great as a team," said Chris Finkes, Team Whiteman firefighter challenge competitor. "We will continue to train and will come back stronger and faster next year to show what Team Whiteman can do."

Airman 1st Class Daniel Baumgartner, also a Team Whiteman firefighter challenge competitor, said "I had mixed feelings about it. However, it was an accomplishment as a team to make it to worlds, but we will work to do better."

Firefighters competed in events comprised of climbing a five-story tower, hoisting and chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized 175-pound "victim."

New to the firefighter challenge, Baumgartner was pleased with his ranking in the individual's competition.

"I placed 98th in the world," he said. "As a first-year competitor, I didn't do too badly, but I'm going to work harder for next year and continue to improve."