This weekend, some of the best firefighters from around the region will gather at Lambton College for the Western Ontario Fire Fit Regionals.
The event is known for its intensity, highlighting the physical strength, endurance, and skills essential in firefighting.
On Saturday, competitors will tackle the entire course while wearing bunker gear and using breathing apparatuses. On Sunday, there will be two types of relay races.
The opening ceremonies are set to begin at 5 p. m. on Saturday, with competition expected to end around 9 p. m.
Competitors will return on Sunday morning at 11 a. m., wrapping things up around 4 p. m.
The highly decorated team from Lambton College’s fire school is among those competing as they kick off the 2026 Fire Fit season.
They’ll be going up against both full-time and volunteer firefighters from various regional departments.
Co-Coach Shane Bettridge remarked that Fire Fit is often called the toughest two minutes in sports.
He explained that competitors start by racing up a six-story tower while carrying a high-rise pack weighing 42 pounds on their backs.
“They pull up a bundle of hose, which is 42 pounds up those six stories,” said Bettridge. “As we come down the tower, there’s a simulated Keiser machine that’s meant to mimic breaking through a roof. They have to drag a hose that ends up being about 500 pounds of pressure by the time they shoot and hit a target. And then the entire race ends, which is the hardest part of it, where they drag a Rescue Randy. He weighs 175 pounds and they have to drag him back 100 feet to the finish line.”
Bettridge feels confident about the chances of their team from Lambton College.
The team consists of eight men and seven women. Eight members are returning from last year while seven are newcomers.
“We’ve had a couple of good previous years and about half of our team is back from last year and we have some very strong rookies,” he said. “We are hoping and looking forward to having another successful year this year.”
In 2025, the Lambton College squad brought home 36 medals, including seven from the Canadian National and World Championships.
Keira Adams finished fifth overall in Women’s Individual Races and won the esteemed Rookie of the Year Award.
The Fire Fit Corporate Challenge scheduled for Friday was canceled due to poor air quality resulting from wildfires in northern Ontario.
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