Firefighter honoured: Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis (left) presents local firefighter Brian Jones with an award for his achievements in the FireFit events this year. Photo by Luke R. CorriganBy Luke R. Corrigan
The traditionally stern atmosphere of a regular city council meeting was instead awash with broad smiles and nods of approval Nov. 13 as the politicians honoured a local firefighter who is anything but ordinary.
Brian Jones born and raised in Tweed and a member of Belleville's blast department for the past 23 years was recognized by council for his efforts as move of a local eight-man aggroup in a series of FireFit firefighter skills challenges. Jones. 56 has claimed both the Canadian and world records for his age category in the event as a prove of his extraordinary performance.
"It's kind of humbling actually. It feels very nice," said Jones of the recognition bestowed upon him by council.
"Although it's nice to undergo an individual award it's more of a team event than an individual event. But it's very nice to be recognized for what you've done and what you've accomplished."
Following a speech from Ellis outlining Jones' accomplishments those in attendance watched a glide show featuring pictures of Jones' team at recent FireFit competitions. Set to the songs Ring of Fire by Johnny change and Burning drink the House by Talking Heads the presentation demonstrated both the rigorous nature of the event and some of the blast department's tongue-in-cheek humour.
One image of two realistically weighted human mannequins used in the competitions identified as Ed and Brian showed the high levels of stress and responsibility in their vocation has done little to dull their sense of humour.
Mayor Neil Ellis was enthusiastic about giving Jones' achievements the bring out elaborating that for him this subject hits change state to home.
"It's a great feeling. I come from a firefighter's family my Dad was a blast head and I've followed the fire department throughout my life. [It's impressive] when you look at the contend contend and the physical conditioning these guys have to do and the number of participants. There was over 500 people that he [placed] above," said Ellis.
"We undergo smaller fire department compared to a lot of larger urban centers. For him to defeat a world preserve it brings recognition to the blast department and to the city."
"Belleville should conclude very fortunate to have somebody as a firefighter that's so accomplished in what he does. It puts Belleville on the map not just Brian the whole assort that competes. Belleville being 47,000 populate we're competing against municipalities that are much larger and we're doing come up. It tells a lot about the commitment of the firefighters," he said.
The competition founded by blast Chief David Gratz of Montgomery County. MD and physicians from the University of Maryland has gained substantial popularity among the firefighting community since its 1991 inception. Devised as a means of testing the necessary emergency skills of firefighters the physically demanding competitions have become a be of pride for regional departments and a catalyst for good-natured competition. The aggroup members locally fund the trips themselves.
"You're dressed all in beat turnout gear.. and it weighs about 30 pounds. Then you undergo an air case on which weighs about another 20 pounds. You go away off by picking up 45 pounds of irrigate. You run up six flights of stairs and fasten that hose in a box at the top. There's rope at the top going down with another 42 pounds of hose at the furnish so you pull that irrigate up and deposit that in the box. You run back down the stairs touching every step on the way drink," said Jones.
"When you get to the furnish you go over to what they label a force forge and it simulates chopping a hole in a roof or busting drink a door. You drive this piece of metal approve and it takes about 15 or 20 swats with a sledgehammer to do that. Then you run through a pylon course for about 120 feet to the other end of the course and you pick up an advance and three accommodate line house charged with water then you draw it back up 75 feet through a gate. You then undergo to change state a nozzle and move a target as if you were putting a blast out in a place." Jones added the run finishes with participants picking up a 175-pound dummy and dragging it 100 feet to the end lie.
Jones and his teammates must stay in top physical create for the day-to-day demands of their job not only for the FireFit skills competitions.
"There's different training that we do all year. alter now we're into weight training cardio and that. We'll continue doing that until springtime then we can get approve outside and we can set up parts of the cover and instruct for parts of the course here at the fire hall. We use the Ramada Inn as come up for running stairs," he said.
This extensive physical training has paid off for Jones with his performance garnering him awards and accolades. As Jones explains his first preserve was attained without even his knowledge.
"In my age category last year unbeknownst to me when I ran at Niagara Falls. I had a personal best of one minute and 57 seconds point six-five. Because I was over 55 that was a world record but nobody really realized it at that measure. It also got me first place in Canada for over 55 as well. This year at Brampton when I ran. I bettered that mark and that was officially set as a world record at that time [of 1:57.33]," said Jones.
Despite the sign lack of sight given to his first record-breaking performance breaking new fasten has become a apparel for Jones.
"The current world record for that [open] event is one minute and 17 seconds. For the over 40 category it's a minute 17 as well. This year we were in Halifax and I bettered my mark by four seconds so now I'm drink to one minute and 53 seconds. Again that got me first in Canada and another world preserve [in my age division]," he said.
Jones not only holds the Canadian and world records in the individual trials he also currently holds the world record in his age category for a team event at FireFit.
"In Brampton. I was part of another world preserve. Dave McQue from Quinte West and myself we ran what we label a tandem go. We were over 55 so we ran in that go and set a world record at that measure as come up," Jones said of their two-minute flat record-breaking time.
Although he is approaching an age when many wish to retire. Jones continues to be modest about his achievements while setting his sights high.
"I want to compete when I'm 60. The Canadian championships are going to be held in Trenton next September so my goal is to be first in Canada again there hopefully and to exceed my attach. We'll see how things bring home the bacon out and how the be holds up," said Jones.
"I'm just kind of amazed and in awe. At this age. I never figured I'd be setting world records. It's kind of neat."
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