GEORGE NEWS - Our region has some of the best firefighters. This again became clear at the recent ETS Industrial Emergency Response Competition where two Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) firefighters were part of a team that placed first in three sections, despite being the only team that doesn't work in an industrial setting.
Emile Conrad, senior firefighter at the GRDM and current South African Toughest Firefighter Alive, and volunteer firefighter Ethan Wildeman were members of team Charnaud, which took part in this annual competition at the end of October.
What makes team Charnaud's achievements even more impressive is the fact that its members were from different municipalities who worked together for the first time at this competition, while all the other teams work together every day in heavy industries such as refineries and mines.
Charnaud competed against 12 other teams, placing first in three sections of the competition and second in the main event, while Conrad, their leader, placed third overall in the team leader category.
"This is a very good achievement for a group of municipal firefighters competing against industrial firefighters," said Conrad.
It was Wildeman's first industrial firefighting competition and he said he learned a lot. He was amazed at the things he did that he never though he was able to.
"It was also incredible to compete with someone like Conrad because I see him as a mentor and his knowledge and experience are incredible," said Wildeman.
Competing in the main event for team Charnaud are from left: Emile Conrad (red helmet), Nick Barry (yellow helmet), Manie Gouws (spraying water), Nico Gouws (blue top) and Ethan Wildeman (spraying fire). Photos: Fire and Rescue International
From left: Conrad, Nick Barry, Manie Gouws, Saskia Botha (Charnaud), Neels Kruger (Charnaud), Ethan Wildeman (Garden Route), Nico Gouws and Vince Naude.
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