Niagara Firefighters compete in CANADA

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA -- Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Firefighters were the only US team among Firefighters from across Southern Ontario to compete in the 2006 Firefit Canadian Championships held recently at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Over 500 professional firefighters from across Canada & our Air Force team competed in the four day event. The televised competition precedes the 2006 World Championship to be held in Nevada later this year.

The competition was centered around five events which included the tower Climb, Hose Hoist, Forcible Entry, Hose Advance and Victim Rescue all of which replicate actual firefighting scenarios. Participating firefighters prepare all year with training that raises the level of their on-the-job performance.

The Niagara ARS team consisted of Team Captain; Lt. Joe Foucha, Lt. Mike Cameron, Lt. Ricardo Bush, Lt. John McDonald, Firefighter Chad Larson, and Firefighter Mike Siejka.

Joe Foucha explained that his team members spend an average of two hours of gym time and 1 ½ hours of course time every day after duty hours. Training for this event started in January. "We went from being in the middle of 80 teams to the top 10 now." Foucha added that he was very apprecititive of the support the team gets from Fire Chief Ed McDonald, and Support Group Commander Col. Mounts.

For Larson and McDonald this is their first year in competition, Bush, Cameron and Sejka their second and Foucha the veteran of the team this makes it his seventh year.

Mike Cameron said, "I've been playing sports my whole life but it's nothing like this" explaining that every muscle in his body is being used during the course competition.

Overall the team finished in 7th place and they are hopeful to gain a higher status at the next competition.