International Firefighter's Day was celebrated with some amazing announcements for Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, and Akumal.
Quintana Roo fire fighters all postponed their celebration from the 22^nd to the 29^th of August due to Hurricane Dean. The two Patronados which are the Foundations for Fire Fighters in our state, the BOMBEROS DE LA RIVIERA MAYA A.C. and BOMBEROS PROTECCION CIVIL Q. ROO I.A.P. attended all three celebrations. The first celebration was in Playa Del Carmen where the Mayor announced a full remodel of the main base on the highway as well as new construction on three new sub bases with fire trucks and ambulances.

They will be located in El Ejido, Nic Te Ha, and the Playacar Airport. Now that Tulum is another County we will need to build another full fire station in Akumal to insure protection for Puerto Aventuras and Akumal. The mayor said this construction would be underway soon as well. These new facilities will create 40 more openings in our fire department and will bring our total number of local fire fighters to over 80. We will have our own army of fire fighters and rescue personnel; not bad for a department that started in 1998 with 8 men.

At the Playa del Carmen celebration the Patronados presented the keys to our new fire truck affectionately know as the FAT LADY due to the fact that she is our largest capacity pumping truck in the fleet. She came from the Sutter Creek California Fire Department; THNAK YOU! When we went to California to prepare the truck for the trip we loaded her down with equipment; we removed the water tank lids and filled the tanks with equipment, we crammed every box full with equipment, and then stacked Rubbermaid containers 4 feet x 2 feet on top of her full of equipment for Quintana Roo. The value of the equipment is +/- $400,000.00 USD!

One week before Hurricane Dean we passed out equipment to fire fighters all over the state of Quintana Roo. We sent Chetumal 20 sets of turn outs, uniforms with 20 SCBA's, and air packs with masks. We sent Cancun over 80 Turn outs, 40 SCBA's with 40 pass alarms, and 2 sections of 5 inch fire hose for their turbo draft. Our Patronados are proud to report that all of our fire fighters in the state of Quintana Roo now have uniforms!

The Tulum celebration was beautiful; they had Mariachis, presents and a meal for all local fire fighters and their family's. They are excited about being the newest fire dept in the county. Cancun's celebration was also beautiful at the main base on Tulum Avenue in Cancun. Hotel Oasis catered the event with white linen covered chairs and tables, crystal glassware, silver place settings complimented the wonderful food. Over 250 guests attended and ate as a 20 piece Orchestra played at the luncheon. Cancun also dedicated the memorial park to the area Bomberos with a spectacular mural of fire fighters and rescues. To add to the event they unveiled a 5 foot high bronze statue of a fire fighter rescuing a child. A bronze plaque was presented with the names of the two fire fighters that died earlier this year in the Plaza Las Americas fire, and it was a touching tribute to them. These are the only 2 deaths of fire fighters that perished while in the line of duty in the history of the state of Quintana Roo. Cancun and their fire fighters stepped up and honored their fallen brothers well.

This has been an incredible year for training and equipment and a feeling of confidence that the Mexican government gives us their full support. I should be thanking hundreds of people that have made all of this possible, but please allow me to honor just a few people that support me unconditionally. First my wife Edie, for her endless support, my brother Bruce who goes out and picks up and stores equipment, Andrea Sabbia, who is my right hand and Chief Advisor, Captain Bill Salmon, my mentor and training officer extraordinaire, and to Chief Mike Carr; it is hard for me to express my admiration for this man, his gifts, passion, and energy to train our firefighters in Mexico. To all of you I did not mention I know in my heart who you are. Thank you for your love and support.

God Bless you all.

Brian Borjesson

President

Comments (1)

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written by Jim and Cheryl Hancock from Atlanta, September 07, 2007

Hey Brian, This is so wonderul to read! We love to see the support that you are getting there and the growth of the departments! Keep up the good work! Behind every good man there is a great woman. That was so sweet to include Edie in your thank you's
Can't wait til we see ya'll again

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