FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM

FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2014. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 28 at the Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival (2013), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #1042 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,042

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1600

peak 1605 · rated over 14 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 10, 2013

latest May 9, 2014 · 1 year on the trail

Best ToY finish

#97

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

2 reserve

Category wins

12 podiums

Overall top-10s

71% of 14 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 24%

overall standings

Best overall

674.2172 / 720

Master · 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash

Perfect 180s

Current form

643.23 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 647.60 (-4.37)

Walk rate

93%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.8572

Chicken · 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash

Consistency

±19.09

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 165.27 · weakest Pork Ribs (156.55)

Road miles

1,590

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 251 mi

Schedule strength

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1513)

Master avg

647.60 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

The heartbreaker

3.5084 points from the title

Came within 3.5084 points of the Grand Championship at 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash (Aug 9, 2013).

On the rise

+94 rating points in a year

Their power rating has climbed 94 points across 14 contests since May 10, 2013 — from 1506 up to 1600.

14 contests since May 10, 2013
now 1600

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival (Aug 23, 2013).

Chicken 1st
Pork 1st

They almost always walk

93% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 13 of 14 contests

A top-10 category call in 93% of their 14 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

674.2172 career-best overall

93.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 674.2172 at 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash — 93.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 9, 2013

A tough matchup

7–3 behind in the head-to-head

3 EYZ BBQ ahead in 70% of their meetings

3 EYZ BBQ has come out ahead in 7 of their 10 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.7 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.72 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 14% of the time against 64%.

Pork Ribs avg 156.55
Chicken avg 165.27
2 calls in 14 entries

Show 2 more storylines

A strong matchup

5–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

PEPPER MONKEY BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2014 ↗	Master	#2084 (75 pts)	#2167 (75 pts)	#2161 (75 pts)	#1457 (200 pts)	#2148 (75 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#97 (1,965 pts)	#40 (2,203 pts)	#243 (1,191 pts)	#121 (1,615 pts)	#44 (2,180 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM, each with one reason worth a look.

26 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

POOH BEAR BBQ

#1,043 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 47%
Peak: 1600

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 13 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2026
on a 3-contest top-10 run

⚔ Compare careers

Sure Shot BBQ

#1,047 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1600

Careers of much the same size, 15 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Apr 10, 2026

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Rio Good BBQ

#1,044 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1603

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 19 contests, alongside a 42% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 19 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

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RUBY CREEK BBQ

#1,046 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 50%
Peak: 1600

They turned up 6 years after FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM did, first appearing in 2019.

rated over 23 contests
last seen Jun 19, 2026

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2 RHODIES BBQ

#1,040 of the rated field

1601 power rating

Contests: 38
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1606

Level with FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 38 contests
last seen Sep 27, 2019

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Hawg Feathers

#1,045 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 49
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1618

49 contests to 14: their number has had years to settle where FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM's is still finding its level.

rated over 48 contests
last seen Mar 15, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
3 EYZ BBQ	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
PEPPER MONKEY BBQ	9	6	3	67%	⚔ compare
CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
HOG-IT-UP BBQ	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
APORKALYPSE NOW	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
RED WAX BBQ	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
BLACK CAT BBQ	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
4:20 Q	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
DEGUELLO BBQ	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
ALQUEMY - VA	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
DIZZY PIG	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
LYIN' PIGS	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
JUST SMOKIN' AROUND	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	9	3	6	174.8572	147.4284	165.27	top 27%
Pork Ribs	14	2	1	1	174.8570	140.5714	156.55	top 53%
Pork	14	6	1	2	169.1428	146.2856	161.37	top 35%
Brisket	14	11	3	3	173.7256	149.2000	164.41	top 21%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	5	0	top 15%
Large (40+)	9	0	top 29%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MD	5	top 17%
VA	4	top 25%
PA	1	top 18%
WV	1	top 27%
NY	1	top 18%
DC	1	top 21%
DE	1	top 70%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
BBQ Jamboree	2	19	0	top 42%	May 9, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 13 contests

Contests a season 7 across 2 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MD 5 of 14 contests · 7 states in all

Contests visited 13 1 of them more than once

Opponents faced 393 finished ahead 471 times, behind 162

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20141 milestone

May 9 Most recent contest BBQ Jamboree

201312 milestones

May 10 First tracked contest BBQ Jamboree
May 10 First call BBQ Jamboree
May 25 First category win (Pork Ribs) The Memorial Day Pignic
May 25 First overall top-10 The Memorial Day Pignic
May 25 First overall past 90% of a perfect score660.5712 The Memorial Day Pignic
Jul 19 First overall podium Que & Cruz
Aug 9 First Reserve Championship 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash
Aug 9 Career-best overall score674.2172 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash
Aug 9 Career-best single call (Chicken)174.8572 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash
Aug 23 First multi-meat day Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival
Aug 23 10th tracked contest Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival
Oct 11 Peak power rating (1605) 3rd Annual High Point BBQ

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.7	The Memorial Day Pignic	May 25, 2013
+13.5	12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash	Aug 9, 2013
+13.1	Que & Cruz	Jul 19, 2013
+12.1	Beltway BBQ Showdown	May 31, 2013
+12	Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival	Aug 23, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-6.6	Middletown BBQ Cook Off	May 17, 2013
-4.7	BBQ Jamboree	May 9, 2014

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	GCs	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2014	1	0	0	0	100%	top 53%	86.3%	86.3%
2013	13	0	10	8	92%	top 22%	93.6%	90.2%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 9, 2014	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	34 / 64 (621.1772)	38 (154.2972)	50 (149.1200)	5 (168.5600)	41 (149.2000)
Oct 11, 2013	3rd Annual High Point BBQ Clarksburg, MD	5 / 31 (660.4796)	9 (167.4056)	14 (161.1200)	5 (165.6684)	5 (166.2856)
Oct 4, 2013	Keystone Classic Barbeque Harrisburg, PA	10 / 55 (647.3372)	1 (173.1428)	14 (162.2400)	28 (158.2628)	29 (153.6916)
Sep 6, 2013	Pickin' in the Panhandle Inwood, WV	10 / 37 (648.4228)	5 (168)	25 (157.6572)	27 (153.6572)	4 (169.1084)
Aug 23, 2013	Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival Harrisonburg, VA	2 / 28 (638.7312)	1 (169.7144)	23 (141.0512)	1 (168.5828)	6 (159.3828)
Aug 9, 2013	12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash Bel Air, MD	2 / 60 (674.2172)	2 (174.8572)	32 (157.6572)	4 (167.9772)	1 (173.7256)
Jul 19, 2013	Que & Cruz Louisa, VA	3 / 45 (663.4056)	1 (173.1656)	10 (163.4400)	15 (161.0856)	6 (165.7144)
Jun 28, 2013	Boston Hill BBQ Fest Hamburg, NY	9 / 49 (660.5716)	2 (173.7142)	30 (154.2860)	24 (160)	1 (172.5714)
Jun 22, 2013	Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle Washington, DC	9 / 42 (657.7144)	24 (155.4284)	16 (165.1428)	4 (168.5716)	5 (168.5716)
Jun 14, 2013	Central MD Swinetastic BBQ Festival Frederick, MD	26 / 63 (636.5714)	27 (161.7140)	49 (150.2858)	12 (167.4286)	29 (157.1430)
May 31, 2013	Beltway BBQ Showdown Ft. Washington, MD	4 / 25 (664.5712)	10 (166.8572)	14 (159.4284)	3 (169.1428)	1 (169.1428)
May 25, 2013	The Memorial Day Pignic Fort Ritchie, MD	4 / 38 (660.5712)	3 (171.4286)	1 (174.8570)	32 (146.2856)	7 (168)
May 17, 2013	Middletown BBQ Cook Off Middletown, DE	39 / 56 (602.2852)	45 (147.4284)	49 (140.5714)	35 (153.7140)	10 (160.5714)
May 10, 2013	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	19 / 60 (630.2854)	22 (156.5714)	26 (154.8570)	39 (150.2856)	5 (168.5714)

FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Master avg

Storylines (9 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

On the rise

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Looking over their shoulder

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)