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WALPOLE ISLAND, ONT.
In nearly 30 degree weather and full firefighter gear, he crawled through a narrow culvert, put on his self-contained breathing apparatus and ran to the back of the line.

Frederick Morrison, left, Atsaina Eeyeevadluk, Jollie Enoogoo, team captain Pauloosie Kowmageak, Iqaluk Toonoo, Steven Iqalukjuak, coach Jerry Anilniliak and Troy Innukshuk, front, attended this year's National Aboriginal Firefighter Competition on Walpole Island, Ont., on Aug. 24. - photo courtesy of Department of Community and Government Services

Another teammate followed until all six Nunavut firefighters had run the course.

For Atsaina Eeyeevadluk of Kimmirut this event was the toughest in the National Aboriginal Firefighter Competition, which took place Aug. 24 in Walpole Island, Ont.

However, the most difficult aspect of competing was dealing with the heat, added Eeyeevadluk.

"We were already sweating just putting on boots and pants," he said with a chuckle."It was pretty hot."

The team of Nunavut firefighters – Eeyeevadluk, Troy Innukshuk, Steven Iqalukjuak, Jollie Enoogoo, Iqaluk Toonoo and Pauloosie Kowmageak – placed sixth out of eight teams.

Last year the team finished second last.

This time around it helped that five of the team members had been in the event before, said Eeyeevadluk who competed for his fourth time.

They likely would have done even better, he continued, if they had more than a weekend to train together.

"It was a lot better to practice than no practice but … If it was more like a week or something there would have been more of a difference," he said.

Still, the competition was fun and it gave everyone a chance to meet some new people, Eeyeevadluk said, adding he wants to go again next year.

Getting into firefighting

The fire chief joined the Kimmirut volunteer fire department in 1999.

At the time, more firefighters were needed so he decided to help out.

A couple years later he took the position of fire chief because, he said, nobody wanted it.

Eeyeevadluk still clearly remembers the first fire he ever fought.

It was the day before New Years and while everyone else in the word was stressing over Y2K a resident's snowmobile went up in flames on the road to the airport.

The man had been working on his machine earlier in the day and left some fuel in the carburetor, which caught fire, said Eeyeevadluk.

"When we got to (the snowmobile) it was almost like a skeleton," he recalled.

The biggest fire the father of four has ever fought was a house fire five or six years ago.

Fortunately nobody was hurt and there was only minor damage, he said.

After more than a decade of firefighting, Eeyeevadluk said he continues to do the job because he wants to help the community.

It's been an interesting experience and the position has taught him how to take charge and how to be calm under pressure, he added.

Eeyeevadluk said he isn't sure if his daughters will follow in his footsteps but he wouldn't discourage them from joining the department.

"I can't force them. I could just tell them that firefighting is fun and an interesting thing to do."

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