There is a great family event coming to Aldergrove this spring.
It is going to have all the fun the Township has come to expect of Aldergrove Mini-Fest – the parade, the soap box derby, crazy wheels competition and the whole range of community fun – and right in the middle of it all, the Township of Langley Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 4550 Charitable Society is hosting the 2013 Pacific Regional FireFit Championships.
Put it all together and you have the 2013 Aldergrove FireFit Festival on May 25 and 26, centred in Philip Jackman Park at 32 Avenue and 271 Street, Aldergrove. This is a true community partnership aimed at bringing a truly fantastic event to Langley Township.
“We are excited to be bringing the FireFit Pacific Regional Championships to Aldergrove,” said Annette McArthur, of the Aldergrove Festival Days Society.
“We’ve made quite a few changes this year, such as moving the popular July Fair parade (to this event instead). The community can look forward to local food, fun and entertainment as well as firefighters from all around B.C., the Pacific North West and Alberta competing for the title of FireFit Pacific Regional Champion. It’s going to be a lot of fun for a couple of really great days in Aldergrove.”
Township of Langley firefighter and FireFit organizer Terry Litven said, “When IAFF Local 4550 was offered the chance to host the 2013 FireFit Pacific Regional Championships, the Township’s firefighters thought it would be a great opportunity to bring a fun event to the community and at the same time, raise funds for our charitable society.
“Local businesses have really stepped up to support FireFit in Aldergrove, and we’ve been receiving a lot of enthusiastic support from the community, businesses and sponsors. Without that support, we’d never have been able to host this event.”
For context on a FireFit competition, understand that 90 seconds is just about the Olympic record for the 800 metre dash; it is also the amount of time it takes for a house fire to nearly double in size. If you put the two together, you have a FireFit event. FireFit combines all the chaos a team of firefighters work through when they arrive at a fire, and makes it into a race: competitors climb a four-storey tower carrying a hose pack, hoist a hose roll to the top of that tower with a rope, head back down to wield a sledgehammer on a forcible entry simulator, drag a charged fire hose 75’ to hit a target with the water and then drag a 175-pound rescue dummy 100’ to the finish line. It’s not as far as an 800-metre dash, but more action packed.
McArthur added, “Aldergrove Days have traditionally been held in June. The chance to broaden the fun, work together with friends and neighbours in our community, is a win-win for everyone.”
Mark your calendars and come out to enjoy everything the Aldergrove FireFit Festival has to offer.
The L4550 Charitable Society takes part in efforts and projects that raise funds for the benefit of the citizens of our community, and for other charities, particularly the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association Burn Fund and Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Aldergrove Days have been bringing the community together for locally themed fun and celebration since 1984.
Go to www.firefit.com/FireFit/events/2013PacificRegional.html and www.aldergrovefairdays.com for full details.
Saturday, May 25
• Music and Entertainment ALL DAY!
• Refreshments and Clowns ALL DAY!
• Festival Parade starts 10 a.m. ( float registration form available at www.aldergrovefairdays.com )
• FireFit Pacific Regional Individual Competition starts 12:30 p.m.
• Dinner Dance Saturday night!
Sunday, May 26
• Music and Entertainment ALL DAY!
• Refreshments and Clowns ALL DAY!
• Festival Soapbox Derby starts 10 a.m.
• Crazy Wheels Cup starts right after the Soapbox Derby
• FireFit Pacific Regional Team Competition starts 12:30 p.m.
The Aldergrove FireFit Festival promotes businesses in downtown Aldergrove and the Fair in July. (Previously called the June MiniFest; the parade was previously held in July as the start to the Aldergrove Fair Days.)