Medicine Hat firefighters prepare for world challenge

He’s gone to the world championships on a number of occasions, and is heading there again this year.

Seymour said that the competition is based on what a firefighter may do at a fire scene.

“So we’re wearing our full turnout gear when we’re racing individual, when we’re really running relays. We’re still wearing the air pack, but we’re just not breathing on air,” Seymour said.

“For individual, we breathe air, and then you’re picking up a high-rise pack, which weighs 45 pounds. Besides the gear that weighs 45 pounds that you’re wearing, and you’re running up five stories structure,” he added.

“Then when you get to the top, you got to pull up a donut roll that weighs another 45 pounds.”

The competitor will then run down the stairs, where they go to a kaiser machine, which they hit with a hammer to drive back, simulating a forceful entry.

Next is a run around a course of pylons, and grabbing a hose to drag it 75 feet.

A 175-pound rescue dummy is then pulled back 100-feet to finish the competition.

Firefighters trained on Saturday at Fire Station 2 in preparation of their competition in Nashville, Tenn. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

Captain Jason Labash has been doing the FireFit competitions since 2008.

He said the team has won a number of competitions over the years in both the open category, and now the 40 and over categories.

Labash adds this helps them stay ready when needed.

“We put so much effort into, for instance, fire prevention week and fire education and fire prevention, that what we’re noticing on the fire ground is that the fires are now becoming more and more sparse. Because we are doing a good job in fire prevention,” Labash said.

“However, they do sneak up on you. So you need to hone those skills and keep practicing all the time. So it’s a constant drill in order for you to stay current in your position.”

Micheal Arnold is also competing at Worlds in Nashville, he has been on and off with FireFit since 2009.

The only firefighter in the group on duty active duty during training on Saturday.

A lot of personal time is put into training.

Arnold enjoys the comradery of the sport.

“You know you meet other guys from different halls, different cities, different countries even. Just having that camaraderie, chatting about different calls with those guys and learning new tasks tactics and stuff like that,” Arnold said.

“I’s a big part of it.”

A few firefighters from Saskatchewan also preparing for worlds joined the Medicine Hat team in preparation on Saturday.

Both groups will compete in individual and team events at the FireFit competition.

The three from Medicine Hat, along with a few other from the station, regularly put in lots of time to be competitive and more prepared for their job.

“Usually we’re at the fire hall six in the morning, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and then Saturday depends on people’s schedules. We’re here as well,” Seymour said.

“Three days a week, of course related, and then we’ll do fitness beyond that on the other days.”

The firefighters also take time off work to compete in these events.

“I guess you can say there’s a commitment and you have to give up a little of your life to make this work,” Seymour said.

“But this is something that everyone, once they get into it, they enjoy.”

Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services will be 125 years old in 2025 and the hope is to host the Southern Alberta Regional Fire Fit competition at that time.

They will be competing at the world championships this year from Oct. 22 to Oct. 26.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat firefighters prepare for world challenge

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