The Brampton Fire Demons Rope Team have won a three-day competition featuring over a dozen teams from fire services in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. (Photo: Brampton Fire Demons Rope Team on Instagram)

A team of Brampton firefighters have won an international competition and was one of only two teams to complete every challenge, including rescuing a parachutist from a tree and saving a victim dangling from a bridge.

“It was a very physically demanding, mentally demanding, and just overall intense competition,” Brampton Fire and Emergency Service firefighter Tim Dupuis said of the True North Rescue Challenge that ran in B.C. last month.

Dupuis was one of seven BFES firefighters on the Brampton Fire Demons Rope Team, who took first place in the international True North Rescue competition after three days of gruelling rescues.

BFES firefighter Dan Hawkins played the role of the team’s injured patient in the contest, while the rest of the team worked to remove him from perilous rescue scenarios.

Team Japan was the only other crew to finish all 10 scenarios, including a new event that involved carrying a victim up “a straight vertical climb for about 300 feet,” Dupis told INSAUGA Canada.

The Brampton Fire Demons Rope Team includes Tim Dupis, Dan Hawkins, Jeff Eades, Mike Haarsma, Jeff Pink, Grant Taylor and Caroline Bownes.

“It was a killer, and it was one scenario that I know that killed a lot of people,” Dupis said of the new challenge. “Basically, we gassed out, and luckily I have some very fit teammates, and they were able to help me out as well.

READ MORE: Brampton firefighters test their skills at international rescue competition

One of the rescues involved getting a skydiver out of a tree, which posed a different obstacle for the team. They also encountered a real-life “typhoon” during one of the events but had to soldier on.

“It was hailing where we were, and basically that restricted radio communication is because of the wind. So we had to figure something else,” Dupis said.

Last 30 Days: 56,478 Votes

All Time: 1,561,502 Votes

727 VOTES
Who will you vote for as mayor of Toronto?

The True North Rescue Challenge also lets rescue workers learn about new techniques and technology. One device showcased at the competition which Dupis said could see use in Brampton is called the Pythagoras – a modular rescue system that can convert between a monopod, bipod, tripod or quadpod.

Dupis said the device can be used for industrial rescues and would be a value to BFES.

Now, after a first-place win at the True North Rescue Challenge, Dupis says the Brampton Fire Demons Rope Team is looking ahead to another rescue event in Spain called The Great Rescue Day. The team is also eyeing the international Grimp Day challenge, held every two years, and hopes to attend when details of the next contest are released.

“So in 2028, we’ll hope to defend our title,” Dupis said.

You can follow the Brampton Fire Demons Rope Team on Instagram.


INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies

Stay in the know.

Subscribe now to receive our daily email of today’s top stories in your city!