A team of Chatham-Kent firefighters is set to compete in a national event that has been called the “toughest two minutes in sports.”
Zach Mahoney, Derek Buchanan, Devon Taylor, Owen Bateman and Jon Plytas will represent CK at the 2023 Canadian FireFit National and World Championships at Lambton College in Sarnia.
The five-day event will host competitors from across North America from September 13-17, with the finals taking place Saturday and Sunday.
Teams made up of three to five members will compete in challenges that simulate tasks such as stair climbing, hoisting a hose from the top of a tower, forcible entries, and victim rescues.
The team from Chatham-Kent will battle it out in the event’s relay challenge, with the seeding round taking place Friday before the “knockout” round on Sunday.
The event is free to the public and features food trucks, fire-related vendors, and a mini replica course for kids. Paw Patrol’s fire dog Marshall will also make a special appearance on Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.