Southwest Firefighters prove their mettle in international competition

Shaunavon can add some more medals to its Fire Department's showcase. 

Those medals are from the 2023 World Police and Fire Games. Held this year in Winnipeg, the competition came from all around the world to compete in a series of games and challenges. Police and Firefighters from countries Brazil, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic all came out to vie for the podium.

Everyone from around the world, posing for a photo together. 

Competing with other firefighters from Saskatchewan was Shaunavon Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief, Corey Gulaga. He is no stranger to these kinds of competitions but was still amazed at how many nations came for the games. 

"All the experience overall was just incredible," said Gulaga. "We competed in several fire-specific categories, but we also took in, just spectating, the whole host of different events there."

One of the events that Gulaga and his team stepped into was the 'Ultimate Firefighter'. Featuring four stages, the event consists of individuals in firefighting harnesses and equipment, racing things like fire hoses, chainsaws, and other equipment up a four-story tower. 

A shot of the guys on top of the tower.

"This is done on the clock, racing against another competitor," shared Gulaga. "The average time for completing that take was just under a minute."

Competing in that challenge, Gulaga earned himself the bronze medal in the 18-40 category. One of his teammates, Riley Malone from the Assiniboia Fire Department, earned the gold medal in the same event in the same category. 

"I should mention the guys involved," offered Gulaga. "There's firefighter Clayton Greenlay from Shaunavon, firefighter Riley Malone from Assiniboia Fire Department and firefighter Randall Dick from the Regina Fire Department."

Together, they managed to earn the bronze medal for the Overall World Competition. Brazil took home the gold, with the Czech Republic earning the silver. 

The full podium lineup.

This event was fun, but it's far from the end of Gulaga's competition schedule. On September 13, he and Greenlay will be at the Fire Fit World Championship in Ontario. 

"We've already competed in our regional events," said Gulaga. "Myself and Clayton won the gold medal in our two-man relay."

The goal is to of course bring home the gold, with the whole team looking primed for good competition. 

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