Fort St. John to showcase competition featuring province’s best Indigenous firefighters

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Indigenous fire departments from around British Columbia will descend on Fort St. John this weekend.

The 41st annual Indigenous Firefighter Competition will take place all day on Saturday, June 27th, in Centennial Park, hosted by the First Nations Emergency Services Society of B.C (FNESS).

Firefighting competitions are quasi-athletic events where first responders face challenges based on real-world scenarios they might encounter, testing strength, speed, skill, stamina, and technical skills.

The society is a non-profit organization that partners with First Nations across the province through training programs in forest fire and emergency management, according to its website.

According to FNESS’s media specialist, Richard Olak, the competition predates the organization’s formation, which occurred in 1986.

“It started in 1984 at Seabird Island,” Olak told Energeticcity.ca. “From that competition, some conversations were had, and two years later, our organization was created.”

“We are celebrating our 40th year as a nonprofit [in 2026].”

FNESS began as the Society of Native Indian Fire Fighters of BC and changed its name to its current name in 1994.

While an earlier press release said 11 teams would compete in 2026, Olak said 10 Nations are represented, and 60-plus firefighters are coming to Fort St. John to compete.

Squadrons from Kitkatla (Gitxaała) Nation, Gitanyow First Nation, Lax Kw’Alaams First Nation, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Old Massett Village (Haida Nation), Nisga’a Village of Laxgalts’ap (Nisga’a Nation), Gitwinksihlkw (Nisga’a Nation), Tl’azten Nation and Sts’ailes Nation will be on hand.

Meanwhile, the Tsay Keh Dene Nation from northern B.C. could only send a partial team, with those competitors assigned to join other squads.

Winners of the competition will advance to the National Championships taking place later this year, as part of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council’s conference in Saskatchewan.

Olak added that, as part of preparation, firefighters will be training alongside the Fort St. John Fire Department in the days leading up to the event.

“It takes a special type of person [to be a firefighter],” said Olak. “It is pretty impressive what these guys and girls can do together. We will be training with the local firefighters the next couple of days to get ready.”

“It is going to be a really good time.”

The 41st annual B.C. Indigenous Firefighting Competition takes place on Saturday, June 27th, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Centennial Park at 9415 100th Street in Fort St. John.

Spectators are encouraged to come and attend the event. More on the FNESS is available on the organization’s website.