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Bonners Ferry Fire Department wins $52,000 in fire gear
in nationwide contest
April 26, 2016
Who knew they could they could also dance?

The City of Bonners Ferry Volunteer Fire Department just won a nationwide contest, scooping up first prize of over $52,000 in firefighting gear. The contest they won? A dance video contest.

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The contest, "The Viking Shakeoff Challenge," was sponsored by Viking Fire USA, makers of lifesaving equipment and gear for firefighters, and their co-sponsors AW Hainsworth Titan, Phenix Technology, Majestic Fire Apparel, Black Diamond Boots and Leatherhead Concepts. The contest was open to firefighters from any U.S. firefighting department. To enter the contest, firefighters were asked to create a dance video, with firefighters dancing to Taylor Swift's song Shake It Off. In addition to the video, they also had to submit a brief story about their fire department and the firefighters in the video.

So, the Bonners Ferry Fire Department did just that. Their video, which has had over 2,400 views on YouTube, can be seen by clicking here: Bonners Ferry Fire Department Contest Video

Take a look at the video if you want to see some flaming-hot dancing from our local firefighters.

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The winner of the nationwide contest was announced last Friday at the Fire Department Instructors Conference, an international convention for fire professionals held this year at Indianapolis, Indiana, with over 32,000 in attendance from countries around the world. And that winner was the Bonners Ferry Volunteer Fire Department. "Congratulations to Bonners Ferry Fire Department in Idaho on their first prize video for 10 Sets of head-to-toe gear!" Viking posted on their Facebook page, then continued on another post: "A great day for volunteer department at Bonners Ferry, Idaho, winners of the 2016 VIKING Shake Off Challenge! Congratulations and thank you for everything you do."

Ken Baker, a captain in the Bonners Ferry Fire Department, was on hand at the Indianapolis convention to accept the award for the Department.

As the winning fire department, Bonners Ferry Fire will receive from Viking Turnout Gear the following items: 10 complete sets of the new Viking MACS turnout gear, along with Phenix Fire helmets, Black Diamond boots, Majestic Apparel hoods and gloves, and glove straps by Leatherhead Concepts, all considered to be top-of-the-line gear.

The Bonners Ferry Fire Department is headed up by Chief Patrick Warkentin, who is also featured in the video along with the rest of the crew.

Below is a picture, from the Viking Fire USA website, showing one set of the prize gear from the contest.  The Bonners Ferry Fire Department was awarded ten complete sets.


 
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