Sarnia Fire Rescue has won an international photo contest, earning a specialized training manikin valued at over $1,800. The competition, hosted by UK-based rescue equipment company Ruth Lee, saw Sarnia Fire Rescue as the only Canadian entry, ultimately securing victory with overwhelming community support.
The winning photo, taken during live-fire training at the Lambton College burn tower, captures Firefighter Jeff Cowan rescuing an infant manikin and passing it to another firefighter on a ladder. The contest was determined by public vote, and Sarnia Fire Rescue received over 2,700 votes, significantly outpacing the second-place entry, which had just 700.
"We want to thank our amazing community for all their support," said Public Education Officer Mike Otis.
As part of their prize, Sarnia Fire Rescue was able to select any training manikin from Ruth Lee’s offerings. They chose a working-from-heights manikin, which will be used for high-angle rope rescue training. The manikin was officially delivered on January 23rd, during a presentation at Sarnia Fire Station 1.
The win highlights both the dedication of Sarnia’s firefighters and the strength of community support for emergency services.
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