Fort St. John, BC – After three days of training, teamwork, and competition, the 41st Annual BC Indigenous Firefighter Competition officially concluded on June 27, 2026, celebrating the Indigenous firefighters who continue to strengthen emergency preparedness and community safety across British Columbia.
Hosted by the City of Fort St. John Fire Department in partnership with the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS), this year’s competition brought together Fire Departments from Indigenous communities across the province to demonstrate their skills, challenge one another, and connect in a meaningful way while building lasting relationships.
While the competition recognized outstanding performances, the true success of the event was the camaraderie between firefighters and the relationships created through the spirit of competition. Firefighters proudly represented their communities while supporting one another both on and off the field.
The competition and the training this year has been the greatest. Everybody is having a good time, dancing when the traditional songs are playing. I would really like to thank the FNESS crew for everything they’ve done. It takes a lot of work to put a competition together, and the training as well. Hands up to Fort St. John. The fire department here is amazing.
-Jacob Rush, Gitanyow Fire Department
Congratulations to Our 2026 Champions
Following an unforgettable weekend of competition, we are proud to celebrate this year’s champions while recognizing every team that made the journey to Fort St. John to represent their Nation, their Fire Department, and the communities they serve. Every department brought heart, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, making the 41st Annual BC Indigenous Firefighter Competition a powerful celebration of Indigenous fire service across British Columbia.
1st Place: Lower Nicola
2nd Place: Lax Kw'alaams
3rd Place: Tl'azt'en
Gitwinksihlkw Fire Department | 4th Place • Laxgalts’ap Fire Department | 8th Place
Sts’ailes Fire Department | 5th Place
Gitanyow Fire Department | 6th Place
Old Massett Fire Department | 7th place
Kitkatla Fire Department | 9th Place
Tsay-Keh-Dene Fire Department | Joined Kitkatla during the competition | 9th Place
Awards Honouring Lasting Legacies
This year’s competition also introduced two meaningful awards created to honour the lasting contributions of firefighters whose leadership continues to inspire others.
Randy "Moose" Coutlee
Most Dedicated Firefighter Award
The inaugural Randy “Moose” Coutlee Most Dedicated Firefighter Award was presented to Steve Austin of the Lower Nicola Indian Band Fire Department in recognition of his unwavering dedication to the fire service and commitment to protecting his community.
Neill Moroz Memorial
Above and Beyond Award
The inaugural Neill Moroz Memorial Above and Beyond Award was presented to Don Mattess of the Tache Fire Department, recognizing his exceptional commitment, leadership, and willingness to go above and beyond in service to others.
Looking Ahead
As the 41st Annual BC Indigenous Firefighter Competition comes to a close, we would like to extend our sincere congratulations to every participating department, firefighter, trainer, volunteer, official, sponsor, and partner who helped make this year’s event a success. The dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the competition reflect the strength of Indigenous fire services and the shared commitment to protecting communities across British Columbia.
We also extend our gratitude to the City of Fort St. John Fire Department for hosting this year’s competition and creating an environment where firefighters could challenge themselves, support one another, and celebrate their shared commitment to service.
Congratulations once again to all competitors and award recipients. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year as we continue to celebrate excellence in Indigenous fire service across British Columbia.
Join Us Next Year
Contact the FNESS Fire Services team to learn more about future training and competition opportunities.
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