Being tough is a job requirement for a firefighter, and Carla Morrison has proven herself to be one of the toughest in the world. The Class of 2008 emergency services technician alumna is a member of the Strathcona Fire Department’s FireFit team, often placing in the top of her field. In 2024, she took her fire fitness to the next level, competing and placing in the Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA) competition in Saudi Arabia.

In FireFit, competitors participate in a variety of events all centered around common firefighting tasks. Tasks include stair climbs, hose hoists, confined space crawl, wall climb, forcible entry and victim rescue, all completed in full bunker gear.

The TFA competition, says Morrison, “Is like FireFit on steroids. It’s like four FireFit competitions in a row, so instead of doing one obstacle course, you’re doing four different ones.”

The competition brought together over 100 competitors from 28 countries. Morrison’s team from the Strathcona Fire Department went from training in the Canadian winter to competing in Saudia Arabia in early March.

Despite not knowing what to expect going into the competition, Morrison’s team did well. Morrison won gold in the mixed relay event with her team, placed third for the individual women’s event and second overall for women in the stair climb. Morrison and one of her teammates also placed first in the firefighter cookoff at the event, cooking a three-course meal.

The thing about FireFit and the TFA competition, Morrison says, is that it isn’t really about beating the other competitors. It’s about building a community.

“It’s a sport and there’s a really good camaraderie,” she explains. “People give their techniques and tips pretty freely, they’re always willing to help each other out. I don’t think anyone’s trying to win at the expense of someone else. The people are really awesome and that’s why I keep coming back. I feel like I know firefighters from every country now.”