JARVIS—It’s not often that the public has the chance to see firefighters in action, but the second annual Firefighters Challenge held on May 9, 2026 at Haldimand Station 3 in Jarvis provided such an opportunity.
The Firefighters Challenge is a friendly competition highlighting the skills of volunteer firefighters from across Haldimand. This year’s event featured four teams representing Caledonia, Jarvis, Selkirk, and a mixed team of firefighters and divisional support staff.
JARVIS—Teams battled each other – and at times the wind – during the Water Barrel Battle at the second annual Haldimand Firefighters Challenge held May 9, 2026 at Station 3 in Jarvis. The object of this challenge was to use the hose stream to push the barrel toward the opposing team’s marker. 
ARVIS—Above, teams competed in a variety of challenges, including the truck pull, plank walk, and more. 
JARVIS—Ward 1 Councillor Debera McKeen (third from left), visited with the Jarvis Fire team, hosts of the Firefighters Challenge. The Jarvis team, 3 House, included Anthony Elliott, Kyle Miedema, James Bill, Evan Mitchell, and Jeff Matthews. 
JARVIS—The 2026 Firefighters Challenge winning team from Caledonia included (l-r) Chris Hopkins, Steve Fleming, Madison Kichinko, Katie Abbott, and Andrew Collins. The team was aptly named Station 1 Second to None. 
JARVIS—The Selkirk Fire Department team, the Hose Monkeys (l-r) Quinn Smith, Andy Van Ryssel, Mike Ciannavei, Jordan Atherton, and Dan Ykema with Cohen Ykema. 
JARVIS—Haldimand Fire Chief Jason Gallagher (third from left) visited with the team of firefighters and divisional staff known as Misfit Toys: Mel Marriott (Division Support, Community Paramedics Program), Phil White (Station 1 Caledonia), Brock Lalonde (Station 4 Cayuga), Jenna Beemer (Division Support, Paramedics), and Brad Link (Captain, Station 3 Jarvis).
The event kicked off with the pump competition followed by a relay, plank walk, truck pull, and water barrel battle, with the water barrel apparatus provided by Norfolk County. Some of the events were timed, but the teams were also judged by department personnel.
Haldimand Fire Chief Jason Gallagher said the judges watch for proper procedures and good practices being followed. From putting on gear properly to rolling fire hoses tightly, every detail matters.
“It’s for fun, but it’s also a skills competition,” Gallagher said.
It’s also a chance for the families – and especially the children – of the volunteer firefighters “to see what happens after the pager goes off and mom or dad gets to the station.”
Ultimately, the team from Station 1 Caledonia was victorious. As the Firefighters Challenge continues in 2027, Gallagher is hopeful more Haldimand stations will get involved.
He described the competition as “a day of camaraderie; stations that don’t normally work together come together with their families.”
