Crews were busy Tuesday preparing for this week’s firefighter challenge in downtown Erie. 

The competition begins Thursday with practice rounds and continues through Saturday. 

The event will involve more than 175 firefighters from 30 states and three countries. 

In what's known as "the toughest two minutes in sports," those involved test their skills under the clock in challenges that are modeled after real-life firefighter duties. 

This is the first time in 20 years that the city has hosted this competition.

It's expected to draw hundreds of people to downtown Erie.