The Vancouver Sun
Firefighters heat up World Police and Fire Games
Modern-day heroes here from all over the globe
By Yvonne Zacharias, Vancouver SunAugust 7, 2009
Modern-day heroes here from all over the globe
By Yvonne Zacharias, Vancouver SunAugust 7, 2009
Brazil's Fabricio Nascimento couldn't wait to go through the tough paces of the ultimate firefighter course on Friday at the world Police and Fire Games.Photograph by: Jenelle Schneider, Vancouver SunVANCOUVER — The half-moon scars are like two delicate white curving fishbones embedded in Zdenek Koutnik's tanned smiling face.
They are a mark of his job and a badge of honour for the 29-year-old firefighter from Prague, who was here Friday competing in the 2009 World Police and Fire Games.
"I was inside a building and there was a big explosion," said Koutnik, in heavily accented but easily understood English. "It was gas. I spent several weeks in hospital."
Then he was back on the job, a job that is in his blood.
In the Czech Republic, people drive like maniacs. In this country of about 10 million people, roughly 1,500 die in car crashes every year. Because Koutnik is stationed near a busy highway, he often has to deal with this carnage on the roads.
The worst, he says, is when a child dies.
Sometimes, it's their parents who have died. The children cry out for their mom and dad. Koutnik listens to their anguished cries and does what he can to help.
Koutnik says all this with an unrelenting sunny smile while in the background, his fellow competitors scramble up stairs in full fire gear, haul a 185-pound dummy around, drag and roll up hoses, and scramble through a series of obstacles akin to what they would face as firefighters.
Danger, injuries and tragedy are all part of the job. Koutnik just feels lucky to be here. Lucky to be able to show off his athleticism, to hone his skills and to meet firefighters from around the world.
This is one event where the Czech Republic shines. So do Brazil, Austria, Canada and Australia. These countries predominated Friday.
And, of course, there were the kick-ass, hot-shot, flat-out go-getters from Spain who seem to excel at everything at these Games, although they were showing signs of flagging Friday. After taking top honours in the toughest competitor alive competition earlier in the week — and pounding up and down the Grouse Grind — they were lying on the ground at the Plaza of Nations, catching some rest.
Jose Antonio Gomez, a 40-year-old firefighter from Madrid, had to admit they were a little tired. And unlike teams from the Czech Republic, Brazil and Austria, he said, the Spaniards don't train specifically for this event.
Fabricio Nascimento, who is with the Brazilian team, couldn't wait to go through the tough paces of the ultimate firefighter course. Like his Brazilian teammates, he was dressed in a bright yellow T-shirt, ensuring he stood out in the crowd. The team has been competing in the event in 1996, so it's become a tradition.
Although firefighters from around the world share a common bond because of the dangerous job they do, they stay fit in different ways.
In addition to practising flat-out for this event, Nascimento bikes and runs. Koutnik bikes, cross-country skis and runs. And back home in western Australia, 42-year-old Peter Carroll surfs. After coming out of hellish heat of the infernos, he is always happy to leap into cold, fresh water on his days off.
Besides, "it's good for your balance and core," said Carroll. "It's beautiful, one of the best feelings in the world."
Teammate Doug Spear, who has been a firefighter for 17 years in Perth, is into karate. He finds it keeps him fit while helping his breathing and problem-solving skills, which are all essential to his job.
Luc Hamel — a Quebec City native who won gold in the team event and silver as an individual in the ultimate firefighter competition at the Games in Adelaide in 2007 — is competing in his fifth World Police and Fire Games.
"Now for me," he said, "it's just a style of life."
The Games have not only given him the motivation to stay in shape, they've given him an opportunity to travel the world and to make friends for life.
"I went to Adelaide and the guys from Adelaide are now like my best friends. They are having a private party here and I am going."
On the home front, 36-year-old Vancouver firefighter Colin Macauley was more than holding his own, posting one of the best times in the portion of the event that involved raising a ladder, climbing a tower, hoisting a hose, scrambling down the tower, attaching a nozzle, and plunging an axe into a block of wood. In other words, all skills required on the job.
Macauley had earlier won gold in another event, the firefighters stair climb, and bronze in the toughest competitor alive event.
"It has been great competing here," he said. "There is so much camaraderie."
For so many of these competitors, this event is the ultimate.
"It's what a firefighter does," said Carroll. "It shows the best of the best."
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