All photos by T. Hynd
The eleventh biennial National Western Mine Rescue competition was fired up during the surface events today at the Max Turyk Centre.
Teck Coal Mountain Operations (TCMO) was one of nine teams demonstrating their surface mine rescue team skills with fire, smoke/search, rope tasks, first aid, extrication, practical skills and a written exam. The TCMO six-person team is Scott Cook (captain), Scott Shatalow (vice captain), Ryan Gallinger, Craig Wood, Shawn Erick, Josh Gallinger (first aid) and Jon Gale (coach).
Provincial and state winners from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Wyoming, U.S.A. made up the eighteen teams that competed in the underground and surface events on Friday and Saturday.
As judges closely watching their every move, teams excelled with communicating to their teammates during very real emergency scenarios set up with injured people, panicky bystanders, heavy equipment and multi-level structures to add realism.
The overall winners will be announced this evening at the awards banquet at the Fernie Memorial arena. Teams can celebrate their efforts dancing the night away to music by Shred Kelly.