BC Firefighter Games in Pass Creek this month to be public for first time
By Tayla Scott
This summer will end in a blaze of glory and fire – and we don’t mean forest fires.
Pass Creek Park will host the first annual firefighter games on August 30 and 31. Eighteen firefighter teams from all over B.C. will compete in nine events which focus on teamwork, strength, endurance and skill.
“[Firefighter games] is not really a new concept but it’s a refreshed one…. we’ve added a new twist to it, making it not just for firefighters and their families but for the general public,” said Dustin LePage, event co-ordinator and Robson firefighter.
“It’s a festival type mentality with live entertainment, beer gardens and lots of fun for the whole family.”
“It’s occurring from a desire to do Muscular Dystrophy Canada fundraising,” said LePage, who is also the chairperson for Muscular Dystrophy Canada at the Robson fire hall.
This is where the money from the beer gardens, firefighter games grill and the raffle will go.
The events the firefighters will compete in include: Hose roll relay, Randy window rescue, beer barrel attack, hoisting challenge, axe throw, pike pole javelin, chin up square off, sledge hammer slam, and a finale.
“[The finale] is going to look like a firefighting obstacle course and all the props are painted red. There is live fire involved,” said LePage. “It will kind of look like a Wipe Out course, if you’ve heard of that show, only for firefighters.”
“The public can start coming around 10 a.m. The opening ceremonies are at 11 a.m. People definitely want to get down there for the opening ceremonies,” said LePage.
“We’re not really sharing a whole lot, but it is going to be something that you will never have seen in this area and it’s going be very visually pleasing. People are going to be talking about it for a long time.”
“The competition will wind down around 5:30 p.m. or so,” said LePage. “Then we have live bands both nights.”
“[In charge of the music is] Enormous Productions, which is the largest production company in the area. They’re putting in, literally, a $40,000 stage set up for the Sunday.
“We have over two dozen sponsors,” said LePage.
The sponsors are donating prizes, lumber to build picnic tables, portable bathrooms, lighting props and much more.
“[No Frills] has provided us with $1,400 worth of groceries,” said LePage.
The firefighter games Grill, which will be run by the Robson auxiliary, will have a simple menu of fair food like burgers, nachos and chilli.
“It’s been quite phenomenal the amount of support within this community,” said LePage.
He believes the event will also occur next year.
“It’s going to be hard to stop.”
Comments