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Strathcona County will be hosting the FireFit Regional Championship this weekend.
The event will go on Saturday (June 3) and is taking place from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the parking lot of the Kinsmen Leisure Centre in Sherwood Park.
"FireFit is kind of like an obstacle course that tests the six essential tasks of a firefighter," said Brad Dicks, a firefighter with Strathcona County Emergency Services.
The obstacle course consists of the following:
- Picking up a 45lb hose roll and running it up six flights of stairs.
- Hoisting a 45lb hose with a rope.
- Running back down the stairs to do a forceful entry with something called a Keiser force machine.
- Running a set of pylons and carrying three lengths of hose to put out a fire.
- Picking up a 175lb dummy and dragging it 100ft.
Dicks has been a firefighter with the county for over a decade, and just last year he was three seconds shy of a world record when competing at the 2022 FireFit Worlds.
"We've got the same core group of people this year. We're hoping for another successful weekend. There are some very competitive people coming from other departments as well, as far as Regina."
The event is free to the public, but spectators are asked to bring a donation to the food bank.
"The food bank is such a great charity, and it touches a lot of people. Any chance we have to help them out is top priority," said Dicks. "FireFit is just a good place for firefighters to show the public what we do on a day-to-day basis, the level of fitness that we have to have to do this job, and the passion that we have to do it."
The original event was scheduled for Fort McMurray, but they cancelled last minute due to wildfires and staffing issues. Strathcona County took up the job, preparing the event in just under two weeks.
You can learn more about the event on the Strathcona County website.