The Official launch of (FWB BC) Firefighters Without Borders British Columbia was a great success.  We would like to thank everyone for their part in making the launch happen.  Firefighters Without Borders BC thanks its generous sponsors and partners.

       On February 5th, 6 members of Firefighters Without Borders BC will depart for a 10 day training deployment to Paraguay. This training session will be the first deployment to this South American nation and serves to begin fostering a new relationship. The team being deployed consists of 3 members of Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, 2 members of Mission Fire Rescue and 1 member from the City of North Vancouver Fire Department. Training will be delivered in a number of disciplines; as well the members will each be traveling with some donated equipment to present to the Paraguayan Fire Fighters.

   On January 23rd, 13 members of Firefighters Without Borders BC will depart for a 10 day training deployment to El Salvador. The team consists of 10 members of Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, 1 member from the Surrey Fire Service and 1 member from the District of North Vancouver Fire Rescue Service, the final member being a member of the board of Directors and Honourary Consul for El Salvador. The training session being provided will be delivered to not only members of the National Fire Service of El Salvador, but 2 representatives from each of; Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cost Rica, and Panama will also be participating. This only serves to emphasize the regional perspective that Firefighters Without Borders BC continues to put forward in our relationship with Fire and Emergency services throughout Central America. Training will be provided in a number of disciplines, as well the handover of the 105ft Ladder Truck and the additional Fire Engine sent in November 2008 will also take place. To date Firefighters Without Borders BC has delivered 5 pieces of fire apparatus to El Salvador, 4 fire engines and 1 ladder truck, in addition to the significant amount of fire fighter personal protective equipment and miscellaneous fire and emergency medical equipment.

                                                       

                        See video of ladder arrive at the El Salvador fire department

On January 23rd 2009 Firefighters Without Borders BC deployed a team of 12 BC Fire Fighters (Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, & Surrey members) to El Salvador in Central America. This deployment known as Engines for El Salvador (Phase II), delivered a 105ft Ladder Truck, a Fire Engine, 60 sets of PPE and a large consignment of technical rescue and EMS equipment. A four day training program was also delivered to 35 fire fighters, 27 of whom were El Salvadoran; the remaining participants were from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The training program provided focused on six main areas of expertise, being: Fleet Maintenance, Emergency Vehicle Operation, Technical Rescue, Auto-Extrication, Emergency Medical Services, and Fire ground Tactics.

With the completion of Engines for El Salvador (Phase II), the total number of fire apparatus delivered to the National Fire Service of El Salvador (Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador) by Firefighters Without Borders BC is five (4 Fire Engines & 1 Ladder Truck).

On February 5th 2009 Firefighters Without Borders BC deployed a team of 6 BC Fire Fighters (Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, & City of Mission members) to Paraguay, in South America. This team delivered Fire Fighter PPE and EMS equipment to the National Fire Service of Paraguay (Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios del Paraguay). Over 100 Paraguayan fire fighters (Bomberos) attended the training sessions provided by the FWB BC members covering Auto-Extrication, Haz Mat, Strategy & Tactics and EMS. The training culminated in a practical scenario at an abandoned hotel, in which 5 fire stations responded and carried operations.

Currently FWB BC is in possession of two more fire engines (retired VF&RS Freightliners 1987) and a small wildland vehicle along with additional PPE and small equipment. This will form the basis for Engines for El Salvador (Phase III) which is slated for deployment in the Fall of 2009. A training team will also deploy around that time to provide additional training to the El Salvadoran fire service as well as other Central American fire service agencies.

As an inclusive organization, Firefighters Without Borders BC welcomes and all members of the BC Fire Service to become involved. We have a wide variety of opportunities for involvement, from gear sorting & packing days, fundraisers, committee work, and of course, international deployments.

Surrey, BC - Surrey Fire Rescue is donating decommissioned fire fighting equipment to Firefighters Without Borders BC to be used in El Salvador and Paraguay.

Date            Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Time:            1:00 p.m.

Location:        Surrey Fire Service, 8767 - 132 St. Surrey, BC

Photo Opportunity:    Presentation of fire fighting equipment

Members of Firefighters Without Borders BC who have just returned from Central America (El Salvador) and South America (Paraguay) will be on hand to receive the donated gear which will be delivered as part of upcoming training and equipment delivery trips to the National Fire Service of El Salvador and to the National Fire Service of Paraguay.

Disasters can strike at any time and in any country; however, more than 90 percent of those affected by natural and human-caused disasters-earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes, landslides and volcanoes-live in developing countries. The poverty, high-density populations, and environmental degradation affecting most of the people in these countries make them the most vulnerable to disaster and least able to help themselves when it happens. The international aid projects carried out by Firefighters Without Borders BC aim to increase the capabilities of the selected Fire Services and are greatly enhanced by the active participation of fire service organizations such as the City of Surrey Fire Service. These contributions have been recognized by the recipient nations as helping them to make their communities safer, by saving lives and protecting property.

Fire fighters without borders would like to thank the Vancouver Giants for hosting the Vancouver Fire fighter Night on April 3, 2009 for the second round of the playoffs.  We would also like to thank everyone in our organization who came out to volunteer with there family and friends to make this event a great success.  We also sold a record number of tickets to the Vancouver Giants game and managed to raise close to $5000 over the course of the evening.

Fire fighters without borders has SOLD OUT of the 300lbs of El Salvador coffee brought back for fundraising.  It was such a great success that we are look into a repeat fundraiser. Keep your eyes open for the next import of great tasting El Salvadoran coffee.  Good Job!!

Firefighters Without Borders were invited to host a BBQ by donation at the BCTO conference in Maple Ridge on May 25th & 26th. The event was held at the ACT Centre ( Maple Ridge Art Centre). The British Columbia Fire Training Officers Association, more commonly referred as the BCFTOA, is dedicated to gathering information on training standards and providing this information to fire departments so they may effectively and safely train their members. The event was held over 3 days and was attended by fire personal from through out the province of BC.

Nestors Market generously donated $1,600.00 worth of food and beverages for the event. Without their support this BBQ would not have been the success it was. Our members worked hard to ensure it was ready on time and there was lots of food ranging from pulled pork and smoked chicken to black bean and corn salad. We hope everyone left the lunch cue full.

 

The BBQ was a huge success for FFWB raising just over $2,800.00!