Copyright FireFit Canada
As many as 600 firefighters from around the world are here in Kamloops from Wednesday thru Sunday as part of the FireFit Championships taking place at McArthur Island.
The free event will be bring a fire storm of entertainment with firefighters competing in events such as hose hoists, forcible entry, victim rescues and more.
Holly Therrien is the Destination Experience Manager with Tourism Kamloops. She says it will be a big economic boost to the community and a chance to showcase the tournament capital. “It’s a unique event in the way that the firefighters essentially get to go to a regional event, and they have to compete at a regional one to be able to qualify for this National World Championships. So we’ll be getting the top of the top from across the country, as well as from across the world.”
“It’s a super high energy event that really pushes the participants to their limits and then gives us the spectators a pretty unforgettable experience to watch.”
Therrien says this will be a big boost to the local economy. “It obviously increased visitors, supporting the competitors, supporting local businesses, accommodations and restaurants, and it really showcases our economy and our city… we have registrants so far from across Canada, including as far as Cage Town, New Brunswick, and then also the Big Sky Fire Department in Montana. So those are kind of two that are coming in. So they’re going to be coming from from far and wide.”
“The parking lot will be essentially completely shut down, and the course will be set up in there alongside ZAZ is going to be setting up a kids zone. We’re going to have food trucks. The Sports Council will have a bit of a beer garden section going on there. And there will also be lots of seating for people to come out and have a look.”
