KINGMAN, Ariz. – Members of the Kingman Fire Department (KFD) participated in the first annual Keep Raising Your Bar Firefighter Pullup Challenge. The pledge-based fundraiser for the Arizona Burn Foundation (ABF) features firefighters competing to see who can do the most pullups in one hour.
KFD personnel used the gym at Fire Station 22 while 16 firefighters from departments across the valley did their pullups at Hub Fitness facility in Phoenix on Aug. 22. Kyle Schwartz knocked out 436 pullups in Phoenix to win the event.
KFD Engineer Justin Ramos, a 17-year veteran of the fire service, finished third with 359. Ramos fixated on six pullups at the top of each minute, resting the rest of the minute before working for six more, minute after minute.
“Every minute I was ‘right now I’m just going to do six’ and the next minute comes up and again ‘right now I’m just going to do six,'” Ramos said. “That’s how I focused and basically competed against myself.”
Ramos said KFD enjoyed participating in the challenge and he believes he can do more pullups if he competes again next year, as he had short notice before signing up for the event.
“I didn’t train for it specifically, so I just kind of went in there and did my best,” Ramos said. “I think we’re pretty proud to push ourselves and see what we can do.”
Firefighter Matt Eads was second among the KFD competitors with 313 pullups in 60 minutes.
“I’m always up for a challenge and when Knarr (Capt. Brian Knarr) came out to all the guys on shift and told us about the event I just wanted to challenge myself and do something good for the community,” Eads said.
The firefighter pullup challenge was coordinated by former Kingman resident Glenn Jordan, a burn survivor and board member for the ABF.
“The foundation does a lot of great things,” Ramos said. “Anything you can do to help a good charity like that is always a win.”
Eads said he hopes Jordan pushes on and invites the KFD to compete again in 2027.
“I hope he keeps continuing to come back to us every year and we’ll try to get some more guys into it next year,” Eads said.
Jordan said the inaugural pullup challenge raised more than $45,000 for the ABF. He is already planning a second event next summer.
