CBS tandem compete at Firefit world championship

By Craig Westcott

Firefighters from the Conception Bay South Fire Department were the only ones from Newfoundland to make it to the Firefighter Challenge World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada last month.

Firefighter Emily Spracklin qualified in the 18 to 24 age category for female firefighters, while Capt. Sean Lawlor took on challengers from around the world in the men’s aged 40 to 49 group.

Lawlor and Spracklin also competed together in the Open Co-Ed division.

The Town of CBS subsidized the cost of the trip to the tune of $1,500.

“This is huge opportunity for our fire department and for Capt. Sean Lawlor and Firefighter Emily Spracklin to go compete in a world championship like that, and network and learn and have just a great experience to bring back to our community,” said Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse. 

Mayor Darrin Bent noted it’s not the first time Newfoundlanders have competed in the world championships, noting the winning performances of Torbay’s Jack Hickey in particular.

“It’s great to have representation from our fire department at something like this,” Bent added. “They work real hard at these sorts of things. We’ve seen the Firefit Challenge here in CBS, we know the type of work that they do, so congratulations to them.”

Bent noted the Town’s contribution went towards covering the registration costs for the CBS firefighters.