For five years, Grant Hundseth has been trying to bring a national firefighters’ competition to Vernon.
Hundseth’s perseverance has paid off.
The 2016 Pacific Regional Scott FireFit Championships take place at Vernon Toyota May 28 and 29.
“It’s a means to showcase the City of Vernon and the North Okanagan, drawing competitors and spectators from all regions,” said Hundseth, a firefighter who also own Naturally Fit, a supplement store on 27th Street.
“It’s a friendly competition but demonstrates the physical, demanding nature of our trade.”
Teams and competitors from B.C., Alberta and the Yukon have already registered, and there will also be competitors from the U.S.
The FireFit championships were created as a spirited, friendly competition to highlight the level of fitness required of firefighters, demonstrate the nature of their jobs and showcase the kind of people who protect life, property and the environment from fire.
In the FireFit championships, there are six essential tasks: tower climb, hose pack carry, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and victim rescue.
Teams and individuals have to finish the tasks as fast as they can.
Among those taking part in Vernon is FireFit world record holder Amber Bowman of Toronto.
Bowman, according to her blog fitbyfire.com, is a graduate of Ohio State University, where she played on the school’s hockey team.
She is currently a firefighter for Central York Fire Department of Newmarket and Aurora after working as a fitness and sports supervisor with the Canadian Forces.
Bowman started her Fire Combat Challenge in 2011 and was the first rookie to ever be victorious on the world stage. She continues to excel, conquering the FireFit all-time female individual fastest time of one minute 58 seconds, making her the first woman to break the two-minute barrier.
Competition will start at 11 a.m. both days at Vernon Toyota and the free event is open to the public..
“We like to take part in active lifestyles and we’re proud to have this event at our location,” said Vernon Toyota sales manager Kyle Johnson.
