FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Indigenous firefighters from around the province had an enjoyable experience at last weekend’s provincial competition hosted in Fort St. John.
Organized by the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS), the 2026 Indigenous Firefighting competition was held at Centennial Park on Saturday, June 27.
Despite rainy conditions dominating the day, FNESS media specialist Richard Olak told Energeticcity.ca the 41st annual event was not a washout.
“Setting up and tearing down in the rain is not too fun,” said Olak. “But some teams said the rain actually made it cooler. Typically, we are in Penticton or somewhere else down south, where it is much hotter.”
“Running around and doing the drills in turnout gear is super hot. So, the teams and competitors really enjoyed the cooler weather.”
With squadrons from nine different First Nations departments competing, the Lower Nicola Indian Band Fire and Rescue Department, located near Merritt, took the victory.
While 10 teams were initially slated to compete, the entry from Tsay Keh Dene Nation in northern B.C. was reduced to a small number, with its members dispersed to other squads.
By virtue of its victory, Lower Nicola will qualify for the National Indigenous Firefighting championships, slated to take place later this year in Saskatchewan.
Part of the trip north for these First Nations Fire Departments was the chance to train at the Fort St. John Fire Department’s training centre on Thursday, June 25, and Friday, June 26.
Fort St. John deputy fire chief Matt Troiano said being able to host the firefighters from around B.C. was “a valuable experience” for all involved.
“The fire department was very fortunate to be able to host this for our region,” Troiano told Energeticcity.ca. “It was a very valuable experience being able to first of all provide our training centre for use and seeing all the people that made the trip up to Fort St. John.”
“To spend a couple of days of training and just learning different skill sets to bring back to their communities and having to come up here and be able to use our training centre was valuable to our members, seeing how we can support the different groups from around the province.”
Troiano added FNESS staff “came up and instructed” the training exercises, with Fort St. John Fire staff on hand “to support any way” they could.
A banquet was held on Saturday evening at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre, with the winners commemorated with a ceremony. FNESS also recognized two fallen Indigenous Firefighters with memorial awards.
Honouring Lower Nicola Indian Band firefighter Randy “Moose” Coutlee, the Most Dedicated Firefighter Award went to fellow Nicola firefighter Steve Austin.
Coutlee passed away in January of 2026, according to a post from the Lower Nicola Indian Band Fire and Rescue Department on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Neill Moroz Memorial Above and Beyond Award, honouring a former Kamloops Fire chief who passed away in February, went to Tl’azt’en Nation Fire Department Chief Don Mattess.
The FNESS 41st Indigenous Firefighting Competition was held on Saturday, June 27, at Centennial Park in Fort St. John
By , Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jul 02, 2026 at 13:43
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