On January 23rd 2009 Firefighters Without Borders Canada 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.

On March 17th 2008 three retired Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services fire engines, 101 complete sets of turn-out gear, a set of Holmatro Cutter/Spreaders and a consignment of high-angle rescue equipment set sail from Lynnterm in North Vancouver bound for El Salvador.  The 3 engines arrived on April lst, and a contingent of 5 members of the VF&RS (Brian Hutchinson, Shane MacKichan, John Nicholson, Randy Dubbert, and Barry Brennan) along with the Honorary Consul For El Salvador Jeffrey Moore, arrived in San Salvador on April 10th.

Firefighters Without Borders Canada's (FWB Canada) most recent project, the Engines for El Salvador built on a previously established relationship with the Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador (CBES).  The CBES (The National Fire Service of El Salvador) employs 400 full-time fire fighters based out of 16 fire halls serving a population of just over 6.8 million people. They serve with a level of pride and professionalism that is very impressive.  From across the country 32 students were selected, 2 from each fire hall to participate in the training sessions that took place over the course of the next 10 days. The training focused on three main areas, Auto-Extrication, High-Angle Rescue, and Apparatus Familiarization.

The team had the opportunity to visit 8 of the 16 fire halls and on several occasions members rode-along on a variety of emergency response calls.  The lasting impression is of a fire service carrying out their duties in a professional and dedicated manner, making do with the equipment they have.  Having now been on the ground and witnessed their fire service operations we have a much better understanding of their needs. Our intent is to continue moving forward to provide assistance to our brothers in El Salvador.