The First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS) 39th Annual B.C. Indigenous Firefighter Competition was a huge success.
Training for Community
Before the competition on June 1, nine First Nation fire departments travelled to Kamloops for two-days of training. On the second day of training, Volunteer Fire Chief Don Mattes emphasized the importance of this training when he told CFJC News:
“Last year, three days after our training and competition, we had a house fire in our community and we live in a remote community. The guys that came back were all trained and they used all our training that they’ve got from here and they put it right into action as soon as they got home.”
Competition Day
The competition is an event that many B.C. First Nations firefighters look forward to all year as a time to practice their skills and showcase their abilities. On the day of the competition, Nathan Combs, Fire Services Manager at FNESS, highlighted a few of the reasons why this event is critical when he told Castanet:
“They can bring those skills back home and then the camaraderie — bringing these teams together from all across the province — we’re networking, we’re getting to learn from each other and get to know one another, so this is just a really great event for First Nation firefighters.”
Teams from seven First Nation Fire Departments — Adams Lake, Lower Nicola, Penelakut, Saik’uz, Takla Landing, Tla’amin, and Tl’azt’en — were there to compete. However, there was one other team that marked an inspiring milestone for the competition — an all female team. This team was a last minute addition to the competition and it was incredibly moving to see them inspire the young (and old) girls who were cheering for them on the sidelines. We hope to see this team return and grow every year.
Awards Ceremony
For the past 40 years, FNESS has been hosting the B.C. Indigenous Firefighter Competition, rotating it among different communities each year following the BC Fire Expo. Each year, the winning team of the competition earns the opportunity to advance to the National Indigenous Firefighter Competition and represent their respective First Nation fire department.
At the awards ceremony, the winners of the competition were announced based on the points they scored during the heats that day. Saik’uz Fire Department won first place, defending their title. Lower Nicola Indian Band Fire Department placed second and Tache Fire Department placed third. We wish them all a huge congratulations and Saik’uz all the best at nationals!
However, the recognition didn’t stop there. Takla Nation Fire Department’s enthusiasm and comaraderie won them the award for Most Sportsmanlike Team. And it was a special moment when instructors from FNESS and Kamloops Fire Rescue each stood up to state which firefighter inspired them the most during the last few days and why.
During the training, the competition, and the awards ceremony, it was truly moving to see so much positivity, encouragement, and teamwork from all the firefighters, instructors, friends, and family.
Thank you to all the teams that came out to train and compete, and thank you to all the friends and family who attended to show your support. We can’t wait to see you all again next year!
Want Some More?
To see more photos, please click the link below. They are easy to download and share with family and friends.
FNESS Firefighting Competition Media Portal