Wes MacAleer, Minister of Community Services, today issued congratulations to the Crapaud Fire Department for their recent success in a national firefighting competition and extended his best wishes to team members as they prepare for an upcoming world finals competition in the United States.
The Crapaud Volunteer Fire Department team competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge in Penticton, British Columbia on September 26, 1998. Team members include Mike Craig, Dean Ferguson, Sandy MacQuarrie, Harold Taylor and Kent Clyke.
The September competition was part of an annual event demonstrating, in a competitive and friendly environment, many of the most commonly performed skills in firefighting. Competing against other firefighting teams across the country, the firefighters take part in a variety of events, such as lifting and running with hose packs, hauling charge lines, and carrying 175 pound mannequins, all while dressed in full bunker gear and self-contained breathing apparatus.
Despite some strong competition, the Crapaud team qualified for the world finals of the Combat Challenge to be held in Orlando, Florida in November.
Minister Wes MacAleer extended his best wishes to the Crapaud team. "On behalf of our government I wanted to say how proud we all are of the team's performance in Penticton. The training and hard work put forward by Mike, Dean, Sandy, Harold and Kent has brought recognition to our province. We thank them and wish them all the best at the world finals."