Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee Emergency Service’s tandem FireFit team will represent the town on the world stage this October in Montgomery, Alabama.
Greater Napanee’s five man team qualified for the World Championship earlier this month in Pittsfield, Massachusetts with a third place finish in the relay competition.
The course is designed to test firefighters in a variety of situations they might face while answering an emergency call. That involves climbing a tower of stairs, carrying a hose to spray a target and dragging a 175 pound dummy, all in full bunker gear, all in a race against the clock.
“It was the first experience for three of the five of us,” said team member Kevin Duncan. “Our relay team did amazing.”
Also on the team is Daly Chadwick, Joe Thompson, Robert Howe and Dan Chalk.
Those that attended last August’s FireFit championship held at the Napanee Fairgrounds had a chance to see what the challenge is like up close.
“The American course is a little different,” said Duncan. “The hose drag is a little bit tougher, there’s an extra couple of pylons to run through which slows you down and the dummy drag is an extra six feet.”
The Pittsfield qualifier drew firefighters from across North America to compete, many from stations much larger than Greater Napanee.
“The core group of us work out really hard,” said Duncan. “Hours and hours go into it and it shows and pays off. (The American competitors) were asking us what we put in the water up here.”
Earlier this season Duncan earned a coveted Lion’s Den jacket with an individual run of 2:29, eclipsing the mark of 2:30 needed to earn the prestigious achievement in the Over 50 department. Thompson also earned recognition with a time of 2:01.
The team will compete in a handful of challenges in Canada and the U.S. this summer as they gear up for the Worlds which take place Oct. 21-26.
Prior to that, Canada’s national championship will be held in Oshawa Sept. 11-15.
GNES team will is seeking corporate sponsors to help cover their travel costs. On Twitter search @NapaneeFireFit.