STORY: Firefighters and rescue teams from 25 countries gathered in Croatia on Thursday (Sept. 11) to trade skills and go head-to-head at the World Rescue Championships.

The international competition sees 72 teams compete in two disciplines—extrication and trauma. In extrication, crews race to safely rescue a patient from a crashed vehicle, while in trauma, teams face medical scenarios with mock-up injuries and screaming casualties.

This year, teams from as far afield as Florida and Portugal took part.

"It's priceless, what we learn here through competition," said Tallahassee firefighter Jake Roberts.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KARLOVAC, CROATIA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF ITALIAN TEAM DURING EXTRACTION COMPETITION

2. SPECTATORS

3. VARIOUS OF ITALIAN TEAM DURING EXTRACTION COMPETITION

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) KARLOVAC FIREFIGHTERS TEAM LEADER, TIM BUTALA, SAYING:

"The World Rescue Championship takes place here, the 25th in a row. We have 72 teams in 2 disciplines, 36 in the extrication discipline and 36 in the trauma discipline, and the teams come from 25 countries around the world."

5. ITALIAN TEAM DURING EXTRACTION COMPETITION

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) KARLOVAC FIREFIGHTERS TEAM LEADER, TIM BUTALA, SAYING:

"The focus of all this is learning and sharing experience, the positions are not as important as the new knowledge and friendships that come out of this."

7. VARIOUS OF POLISH TEAM DURING EXTRACTION COMPETITION

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TALLAHASSEE FIREFIGHTERS TEAM COMMANDER, JAKE ROBERTS, SAYING:

"Just watching teams and through competitions, learning different tactics, strategies, seeing stuff that we might do a different way in the United States that we can incorporate and bring back to our department and do training with companies and department-wide... it's priceless what you learn here through competition."

9. POLISH TEAM DURING EXTRACTION COMPETITION

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TALLAHASSEE FIREFIGHTERS TEAM COMMANDER, JAKE ROBERTS, SAYING:

"Everything's gotta go perfect, but I'd say the biggest thing is just having a group of people with a common goal, that are dedicated, because once you get to this level it's so nitpicky, you know, everyone here is world-class, so everyone here is gonna score well. It's gonna be the small things, the details that win you the championship."

11. POLISH TEAM DURING EXTRACTION COMPETITION

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TALLAHASSEE FIREFIGHTERS TEAM COMMANDER, JAKE ROBERTS, SAYING:

"The car industry is constantly changing so keeping up with the industry standards is a challenge. You brought up EVs, that's a big hazard for firefighters, both thermal runaway with lithium batteries is a fire hazard but also electrocution hazard with these high-voltage lines. Knowledge of how to the mitigate that and knowing how to avoid them, to safely get a patient out and keep our responders safe as well."

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMPETITOR FROM LISBON, AGE 35, THIAGO (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

"For us, this kind of competition, the championships, it's the best way to learn. It's the best way, it's the cheaper way to learn, and new things and how to do the right things to the patients that need us on the streets."

14. ROMANIAN TEAM DURING TRAUMA COMPETITION

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMPETITOR FROM LISBON, AGE 35, THIAGO (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

"About a few years ago, the cars are less prepared because the materials have evolved a lot, new technologies of prevention, more air bags. In the end, it's better for the patients, it's better for the victims of the car accidents."

16. VARIOUS OF ROMANIAN TEAM DURING TRAUMA COMPETITION