Three Cromwell volunteer firefighters are gearing up to compete on the world stage.

Fliss Matheson (38), Jenna Jones (36) and Nic van Florenstein Mulder (26) will join the New Zealand team competing in the World Firefighter Challenge (WFC) 2023 in Florida, United States October 3 - 8. 

They are among 17 people who make up the New Zealand team.

Fliss, who has been an NRG gym member for the past 11 years, ran a sausage sizzle fundraiser for the trip at the gym’s Cromwell site open day on Sunday (October 24).

She said the community response was “overwhelming but awesome” as youngsters donned fire fighting outfits and had a chance to climb into the fire truck.

Jenna has been with the Cromwell volunteer brigade for the past five years and Nick for one year.

A firetruck at NRG Cromwell’s open day, thanks to Cromwell volunteer firefighters Nick and Fliss. PHOTO: Supplied

Fliss’ two children, aged 12 and 15, call her ‘Batman’ and think her firefighting is pretty cool.

“They say they’ve never seen me and Batman in the same room. That said, they are the only kids that don’t want fire trucks at their birthday parties.”

Fliss has been training for a year for this event, and she’s got the results to show for it.

She placed second in the South Island firefighter challenge, fifth in the nationals and third female in the Sky Tower challenge.  

Fliss’ employers, Design Windows, where she works as an estimator, have helped get her to Florida.

“My work helped me to get decent gear needed for the competition and I’m so grateful for it.”

Fliss thanked other Cromwell volunteer firefighters Clayton, Jason, Tony and Gill who all gave up their Sunday to help with the fundraiser. 

“Also the NRG team and trainers . . . they are one hundred per cent always behind me, helping with my training.”

The firefighter challenge is like a firefighter 'Iron Man' and has earned the reputation of being 'the toughest two minutes in sport'.

Wearing full bunker gear and breathing from a breathing apparatus set, competitors race against each other and the clock in a series of tasks across the course. 

The tasks are climbing a six storey tower carrying a length of 70mm 19kg flaked hose, hoisting a 70mm hose coil six storeys, chopping using a four kilogram shot hammer to drive a beam 1.5 metres, extending a charged length of 45mm hose to knock down a disc and dragging a life sized dummy a distance of 30.5m. 

In Florida the conditions will be challenging with temperatures around 32 degrees Celsius and high humidity. The New Zealand team will be up against many career firefighters.

Fliss said she can’t help but be competitive.

“I would like to do really well over there . . . maybe something like 20 seconds slower than the fastest female.”

Leave a message of support to Fliss, Jenna and Nic on the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade Facebook page and follow the NZ team's Instagram page to keep up with their trip.