Liberal Senator Larry Campbell will join a group of B.C. firefighters heading to El Salvador next week to provide enhanced training for Central American firefighters.
Campbell, who is travelling as a private citizen, said he plans to observe the training and meet with government officials to learn what else Canada can do to aid firefighters in Central America.
Furthermore, the former Vancouver mayor hopes his involvement will raise the profile of Firefighters Without Borders Canada and encourage his fellow senators to reach out to their hometowns.
"Quite frankly, I'm not sure that this organization is as well known as it should be," Campbell told the Courier at a press conference Tuesday at Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services headquarters in Strathcona. "Perhaps from this, we will get more communities across Canada involved in this-both from the point of view of sending equipment that we don't use anymore, to the training portion."
Ten firefighters from the Lower Mainland and four recent firefighting graduates of the Justice Institute of B.C. are making the trip to El Salvador, where 60 firefighters from seven Central American countries will receive training.
Vancouver firefighter Mark Baker said he and a few colleagues will train the Central Americans on how to fight fires inside large buildings.
"That's some of the training they haven't had up to this point, so that's going to be great to give them that for the first time," said Baker, who like other firefighters is using his vacation time and paying his own way to make the trip.
The city's relationship with El Salvador dates back to 1994 when Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services donated decommissioned firefighting protective equipment to the National Fire Service of El Salvador.
That donation inspired local firefighters to create the non-profit Firefighters Without Borders Canada in 2003. The organization has since donated firefighting equipment or provided training to Paraguay, Peru, Belize, Thailand, the Republic of the Congo and the Philippines.
One of the biggest donations occurred in 2008, when three old Vancouver fire engines that would normally go to auction were shipped to El Salvador, along with 100 sets of turnout gear. Firefighters took more than two years to organize and raise $13,250 from rotary clubs to cover shipping costs.
In 2008, El Salvador had 375 firefighters for a population of 6.8 million. San Salvador, the country's capital, had 50 firefighters for 600,000 residents.
Jeffrey Moore, honorary consul of El Salvador, welcomed the dedication of the local firefighters for continuing to train Central American firefighters and provide much-needed gear and vehicles.
As part of next week's mission, firefighters have sent another 100 sets of turnout gear, 60 sets of breathing apparatus and various other equipment, including hoses and couplings to El Salvador.
"It is important to note that the firefighting men that we work with in El Salvador are as dedicated and professionally focused as our Canadian firefighters," Moore said. "The circumstances in which every department operates may be different but the fraternity that is shared is consistently strong and deep."
mhowell@vancourier.com
Twitter: @Howellings
