Heritage Festival
Firefighter Challenge
At high noon on Heritage Festival, the five fire stations from the Southeast Almaguin Firefighters Department, Burk’s Falls, Kearney, Magnetawan, McMurrich/Monteith and Perry will converge on the fairgrounds and compete in their annual challenge. The Challenges encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession’s rigour to the public. Wearing full gear, competitors race head to head performing a series of tasks including tower climbing, hoisting, chopping, hose dragging and rescuing a weighted life-sized victim.
The firefighters always bring in a big crowd. This event offers an opportunity for the public to interact with fire crews and witness the demands of being a firefighter. After their challenge, the firetrucks will be creating the biggest water sprinkler in town and cool everyone down that wants to take on the Sprinkler Run.
There is limited seating around the challenge, please bring a lawn chair or blanket.
List and Explanation of Firefighter Challenges
Asylum Hotrods created a custom trophy for us which is kept at the Watt Century Farm House Heritage Centre and brought out annually to showcase the winner of the challenge. The firefighters also have their own trophy which is displayed in the winner's fire station for the year. Who will earn bragging rights this year??
The firefighters wear bandanas that are colour coded to reflect which team they are on:
Burk's Falls – Gold (Chief Joe Readman)
Kearney - Blue (Chief Paul Schaefer)
Magnetawan - Red (Chief Derek Young)
McMurrich/Monteith - Green - (Chief Joe Readman)
Perry – Orange (Chief Dan Marshall)
Challenge Winners:
2022: McMurrich/Moneith Fire Station
2020 – 2021: COVID Pandemic (No Challenges)
2019: Burk’s Falls Fire Station
Since 2022, the Firefighters receive a custom firefighter coin to recognize their dedication to the service. Firefighter Challenge coins are created as a token of recognition and acknowledgment. They have a long history in the military and also as a way to honor law enforcement officers and other public servants. Custom coins have become increasingly popular for firefighters, used to thank them for their courage and bravery. Firefighters have been keeping the world safe since the Roman Empire. It reportedly all began with Emperor Augustus of Rome, who created the first firefighting crew in the first century A.D. Firefighting became more organized in the 17th century after the Great Fire in London. Firefighter Challenge coins have been presented for years as a way to honour accomplishments, notable achievements, and to honour fallen comrades. They have become a way to commemorate the lives of firefighters across the world.
2022 Firefighter Coin: The 2022 design includes the firefighter’s prayer and provides hope-filled words for protection. The firefighter prayer is a powerful prayer for protection and gratitude for those who risk their lives and honours every firefighter.
2023 Firefighter Coin: The 2023 design includes the theme of brotherhood. Brotherhood is not just a word, it's a commitment to always have each other's back.
2024 Firefighter Coin: (Design to be released after Heritage Festival) The 2024 design is a special one to recognize the retirement of the Burk’s Falls Fire Department’s Fire Chief, Dave McNay. This coin has creative and heartwarming artwork that was drawn by Chief McNay’s granddaughters, Lola and Sofia and recognizes his 34 years of dedicated service.
