The winners will progress to the South Island finals in Alexandra on March 25 for a chance to make the national challenge on May 5.
Firefighters will takes on a variety of challenges, vying for the fastest time.
The events included climbing the stairs of a scaffolding tower while carrying a 30m hose-reel. Once up the tower the firefighters hoist another hose to the top.
To imitate a forced entry to a building, firefighters hit a Keiser Force machine with a sledgehammer and then hit a target with water from a hose.The challenge ends when an 80kg dummy is dragged over the finish line.
"It encapsulates most of the firefighting skills they need in a three-minute event," Mr Burrow said.
Waitati Volunteer Fire Brigade members Jody Williams (37) and Amanda Church (46) said they would be tackling the challenge for the first time.
Mr Williams, of Warrington, said the challenge amounted to
taking on the unknown, just like being called to a fire.
Miss Church, of Waitati, said the event which made her the most nervous was having to hoist a hose up the tower. She had been a volunteer firefighter for seven years. The challenge runs between 9.30am and 2pm today.
