Firefighters Without Borders Deliver Life-Saving Equipment

April 21, 2009 – Firefighters Without Borders BC (FWB BC) has made two trips to Central America to deliver donated fire service apparatus and training to fire fighters there. The British Columbia charity is made up of a team of IAFF members from various locals.

Brian Hutchinson, a member of Vancouver, BC Local 18 and executive director of FWB BC, says, “Our Central American counterparts respond to everything from fires to natural disasters, but do so without the benefit of training and sufficient equipment,” says Hutchinson.

He adds, “FWB BC works to collect donated equipment that can no longer be used here, but is still in good working condition. We train them on the apparatus so that they can stay safe as they protect the lives of members of their communities.”

In January 2009, FWB BC delivered a 105-foot ladder truck, a fire engine, a set of the Jaws of Life, 60 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) and various other donated fire fighting and emergency medical equipment to the Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador (National Fire Service of El Salvador). As part of this project, FWB BC deployed a team of 12 fire fighters from Vancouver Local 18, District of North Vancouver Local 1183 and Surrey Local 1271 to conduct a four-day training program for emergency services personnel from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Just weeks later, FWB BC sent a team of six British Columbia fire fighters from Vancouver Local 18 and North Vancouver Local 296 to Paraguay where they provided training and delivered equipment to the Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios del Paraguay (National Fire Service of Paraguay).

Plans for another round of assistance are in the works for later this year. FWB BC will be sending two more fire engines to El Salvador.

Firefighters Without Borders BC (FWB BC) is a registered non-profit society operating from within British Columbia to provide support to emergency service organizations in countries in need. FWB BC hopes to provide the emergency services of these nations with the tools to mitigate the variety of complex emergencies they face. For more information, visit www.bcfirefighterswithoutborders.com or contact Executive Director Brian Hutchinson at brian@iaff18.org.