FIRE TRUCKS ON THEIR WAY TO EL SALVADOR 

Three fire trucks with the support of Metro Vancouver Rotary clubs are on their way to El Salvador.

Rotarians from across Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service personnel, Consul General of El Salvador and civic officials gathered at Vancouver City Hall on Monday, January 14, 2008 for the presentation of three fire trucks that are being shipped to El Salvador.

Fire Chief Ray Holdgate thanked all the firefighters and supporters for their work. The Consul General of El Salvador thanked and named each Rotary club for their support. Acting Mayor Kim Capri said the motion to support this project passed unanimously in Council.

Coordination of the shipping of the fire trucks was by the Rotary World Help Network.

Rotary Sponsors:

1st Alarm Partners

• RC of Vancouver Chinatown
• RC of Vancouver
• RC of North Delta
• RC of White Rock Peace Arch
• RC of Tsawwassen

2nd Alarm Partners

• RC of Whistler
• RC of Richmond Sunrise
• RC of Burnaby
• RC of Burnaby Metrotown

3nd Alarm Partners

• RC of Vancouver South
• RC of Steveston

PHOTOS OF PRESENTATION CLICK HERE

Engine for El Salvador is a project whose purpose is to further develop the relationship between Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, Vancouver Firefighters' Local 18, and the National Fire Service of El Salvador.

The focus of this proposal centers on acquiring one of the soon to be retired engines  from the Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services fleet and presenting it to the National Fire Service of El Salvador. This project has the potential of creating significant positive public relations for the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, and the Vancouver Firefighters' Union Local 18. It will clearly demonstrate that the City of Vancouver is a contributing member of the global community.

 Background

Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services has a long-standing connection with the National Fire Service of El Salvador. Over the past eight years, a relationship has developed through a donation program, whereby a wide variety of retired personal protective equipment was delivered for the use of this nation's firefighters. Without this generosity, the firefighters of this small developing nation would have to do without, putting themselves at even greater personal risk.

The Honorary Consul General of El Salvador, Jeffrey Moore often relates his experience of meeting an El Salvadoran firefighter, and asking him what they did before receiving the retired gear from Vancouver. As he relates it, the answer was simply, "If we weren't careful, we would get burned."

This serves to highlight the fact that the National Fire Service of this developing nation is heavily dependent on the donation of apparatus and equipment just to provide the most basic of emergency services.