In addition to engaging in their day-to-day duties, staff at Chapala’s Unidad de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos have kept busy this month attending advanced training programs to improve their firefighting skills.
Officers Wayler Samuel Ruiz Us, Sergio Corona Tadeo and Mario Alberto Gonzalez Rios completed a specialized course focused on battling fires in high rise buildings, imparted from May 18 through 22 at the Guadalajara Fire Department’s Base 5. 
Instruction delved into specific techniques for putting out blazes in tall structures as well as search and rescue methods in such environments. As part of their final exam, the men sailed through a nerve-rattling practice in scaling the 24-story Punto Sao Paulo Corporate Tower on Avenida Americas.
Jose Manuel Siordia Moya and Bernardo Muñoz Gonzalez were among 29 Jalisco firefighters to graduate from the Level II training program run by the state Civil Protection Unit from May 18 to June 3.
The broad scope 160-hour curriculum covered topics such as fire dynamics and control methods; turnout gear; NFPA-1500 occupational safety standards; management of forced entries, rescues and ventilation; and proper handling of extinguishers, hoses, ropes and knots, ladders, water supplies, detection systems, and hazardous materials.
Earlier this year a number of local bomberos took training on combating forest and brush fires.
Chapala bomberos will be sharing stories of their real life experience during a pancake breakfast and open house to be held at the local fire station on Saturday, June 20, 9 a.m. to Noon. The fund-raising event organized by the Grupo de Asistencia de Bomberos y Cruz Roja de Chapala will help cover expenses for a new shipment of equipment and supplies coming in soon from Canada. For tickets and further details contact John Kelly, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone 766-0422, Cell 331-758-0676.