Courtenay Fire Department Team Excels at Firefit Competition

Courtenay firefighters made a strong showing at the Pacific Regional Firefit Combat Challenge in Vernon, BC over the weekend, earning silver medals in the tandem mixed and tandem men’s relays, along with a bronze medal in the men’s team relay.

The team included Firefighters Lynn Little, Andy Quinn, Ken Hryko, Matt Rexin, and Ian Robertson, Lieutenant Derek Henderson, and Captain Jonathan Welsh.

Courtenay Fire Chief Don Bardonnex said the entire department is proud of the team’s efforts. “The team members have been working extremely hard over the past three months to prepare for this challenge,” said Bardonnex. “Their hard work definitely paid off, with strong showings in multiple events. They represented our department and our community very well in this competition.”

FireFit challenges competitors to perform tasks commonly needed for emergency situations, combining speed, strength, firefighting, and rescue skills. The event hosted 16 teams primarily from British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories, plus individual competitors.

The team competed in individual, tandem relays and team relays events.

The team posted the following results:

• Tandem mixed NXG3 relay - Silver medal Firefighter Lynn Little, Firefighter Andy Quinn
• Tandem men’s NXG3 relay - Silver medal Firefighter Ken Hryko, Captain Jonathan Welsh
• Men’s team relay – Bronze medal Firefighter Ken Hryko, Firefighter Matt Rexin, Firefighter Ian Robertson, Lt. Derek Henderson and Captain Jonathan Welsh