Lambton College's FireFit team will have home advantage as the school hosts the 2023 Canadian FireFit National & World Championships at its Sarnia campus.
The five-day event begins on Wednesday and will run from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day.
Qualifiers will be held Wednesday through Friday with the finals scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday.
The Lambton College FireFit team will go into the National Championship with its largest roster to date, with a total of 21 members.
Coach Shane Bettridge said competitors have travelled to Lambton from across Canada and the U.S., and from countries such as Poland and Germany.
Individuals and teams will face exhausting challenges while dressed in full firefighting equipment. Races will include climbing a 60-foot tower, hoisting a hose, and dragging a "Rescue Randy" to safety, which weighs approximately 180 pounds.
Coach Sue Patrick said the school has hosted three regional FireFit competitions in the past so they're excited to host the national and world championships.
Those involved in local organizations such as the Sarnia Sting and Sarnia Fire Rescue Services will also get a taste of the competition as they face members of Lambton's leadership team during the Corporate Challenge on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Money raised by participating teams will support the Lambton College Foundation.
Residents are invited to the college to watch competitions and enjoy featured activities at no cost.
"We have lots going on for everybody that comes to watch. There's a kids course that we actually borrowed from Oshawa Fire," said Patrick. "In 2019, when they hosted nationals, they had kids racing on the course, put it on their social media [and] it went viral."
Kids will also be able to see Marshall from Paw Patrol on Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m.
Food trucks will also be onsite, along with a beer garden featuring Refined Fool and Imperial City Brew House. Bettridge said Refined Fool also created a special design for a limited-edition Lambton College FireFit beer.
The event will take place in Parking Lot 13 and guests are encouraged to park in Lot 11.
A schedule of the five-day event can be found on Lambton College's website.