PEABODY – Peabody Firefighter Nick Mir was honored Tuesday night for placing first in a series of the Scott National Firefighter Combat Challenge competitions, which take place annually across the country.Mayor Michael Bonfanti, Fire Chief Steve Pasdon, and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Athletic Director Phil Sheridan recognized Mir with an award ceremony during halftime at the high school basketball game.”Nick is not only one of Peabody’s bravest, he is someone that brings a great deal of pride to our community,” said Bonfanti. “Winning the firefighter’s challenge is like winning an Olympic medal for endurance, strength, and mental fortitude. We are extremely proud of Firefighter Mir and all our firefighters who are dedicated to achieving their personal best.”A 1981 Peabody High School graduate, Mir has been a member of the Peabody Fire Department for 20 years. He’s been competing in the combat challenges for the past 10.”I was informed of the challenge and really took a strong interest,” said Mir, who has competed all over the country, as well as Canada, and has no plans of stopping. Instead of taking a break from his physically demanding job, Mir uses vacation time to train and travel to events.”It’s a great way to stay in shape and meet firefighters from all over the world,” said Mir, who did just that at the World Championship in Las Vegas last year. The event aired on ESPN.”It was the toughest two minutes in sports,” he said.Mir competed in a series of five firefighting-themed obstacles, such as carrying fire hoses and equipment up flights of stairs, hoisting, chopping, and rescuing a life-sized 175 pound “victim,” all the while wearing full bunker gear and a SCOTT Air-Pak breathing apparatus provided by the event’s sponsor, SCOTT Health and Safety.He’s also a member of “Team New England,” which placed at the Northeast Regional Relay in Augusta, Maine and won the Men’s 45-49 Division at the Bass Pro Blast Combat Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C.Pasdon said it’s taken quite some time to get everything together, but he’s proud to finally have the opportunity to honor one of his staff.”I’ve been following him for a while,” Pasdon said. “He’s an outstanding guy and a real credit to the department. I’m very excited.”Sheridan was also thrilled to honor Mir, a former Peabody High School football star.”Nick practices here at Peabody High School and I can tell you his training regimen is impressive to watch,” said Sheridan. “He is a great role model for our current athletes when it comes to maintaining fitness throughout their lifetime.”