Wainfleet hosts battle of the blazebusters ...
The fairgrounds in Wainfleet have filled up with firefighters for the annual Fire Fighters Association of Ontario’s 2016 convention.
The convention spans four days, with two days of training exercises and two days of competition. There are also two parades and some fun for children.
July 30
Parade Marshville, 11:45 a.m.
Firefighter games Behind Wainfleet arena, 1 p.m.
July 31
Memorial parade Marshville, 9:30 a.m.
Air Cadet Breakfast Fire Station, 2 Park Street, 11 a.m.
Firefighter games Behind Wainfleet arena, 1 p.m.
Matt Devries, a volunteer firefighter with the host department, said the competition part of the convention is department versus department. About 60 departments from across Ontario are expected to show up.
He said when they compete in these “firefighter games,” they will be doing a variety of things such as a rescue race, hose race and ladder race.
“Just kind of stuff that we run into in the field,” he said. “They’ve just tweaked it a little bit to make a game out of it.”
On Saturday, there will be a parade featuring all the competitors as well as antique pumpers.
Sunday’s parade takes on a more solemn tone as it is in remembrance of “those who have gone before us.”
The children’s activities include a cutout of an old house that has targets for them to aim at to put out a “fire.”
Devries said this event helps Wainfleet volunteers fund community initiatives throughout the year.