Milton volunteer fire brigade members took first place for Otago/Southland in the annual Road Crash Rescue challenge held at Milton on Friday and Saturday.
Seven teams from around the South Island competed in the two-day event, which challenged teams to rescue passengers or "patients'' from damaged vehicles in simulated road crash incidents.
Despite one team member having an allergic reaction on Saturday and requiring medical attention, the Milton team was awarded first place out of the Otago/Southland teams at the prizegiving on Saturday night.
Milton chief fire officer Robbie Phillips said he was proud of the team, which trained weekly leading up to the competition.
It was hard to get hold of vehicles the fire brigade could practise damaging and cutting open.
Mr Phillips said many things contributed towards the overall score.
Teams were judged on communication, how well the medic operated and how well the vehicles were stabilised.
"It's very skilled and very tough.''
Everybody involved with the organisation of the event pulled together to make it run smoothly.
"With the Milton team winning, it put the icing on the cake,'' Mr Phillips said.
United Fire Brigades Association president Ian Lindsay said the event went well and the good weather played a part in the effectiveness of the competition.
He was impressed with the volunteers pretending to be patients for the event.
"The patients we've had here have been bloody good,'' he said.
Wanaka was second and Balclutha third in the challenge.
The event was held at the Calder Stewart yard, north of Milton.
