Chapala Fire Chief Lorenzo Torres Salazar is buzzing after just returning from a trip to California, where he attended a firefighting conference in San Diego, and visited fire departments in Los Angeles that have donated equipment for his men.
“I saw so many things there,” he said Thursday at a ceremony in Chapala to welcome another shipment of equipment and uniforms. “And I learned so much that will help us build a better, stronger department.”
Torres continued: “This gift is a symbol of a new beginning. This year will be our best yet. We haven’t just received these jackets and pants, we have received ideas and inspiration from our brothers and sisters, the bomberos in California, that will allow us to work for the community in new and better ways.”
His trip was financed by the Chapala Municipality and made possible by the bonds and networks forged between Chapala and Los Angeles fire departments that have been developed through the assistance of the Ajijic Rotary Club.
Past president of the Ajijic Rotary Club Norma Tapia Cannon explained that two years ago their members formed a liaison with Playa Venice, their sister Rotary Club in Marina Del Rey, California.
This partnership, and others built with Firefighters Crossing Borders and Los Angeles fire departments, have resulted in Chapala receiving several shipments of new and used firefighting equipment and uniforms with a value of nearly US$54,000.
At the ceremony Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta Barrios thanked Ajijic Rotary members and praised them for their community service and the boost their work has given not only the city and county, but the safety and welfare of the citizens and emergency workers in all of the surrounding municipalities.
“These generous donors aren’t finished yet,” said Ajijic Rotary club project chair Les Strong. “Waiting to be shipped to Chapala is a great ambulance. It’s also used, but U.S. requirements demand that first response equipment be replaced at regular intervals. We have become one of the beneficiaries of that law, and the things we receive are light years ahead of what we have now.”
After the ceremony Torres Salazar was keen to put his emotions into words. “I feel that these gifts and experiences come with a big responsibility to build a better team and to share our knowledge and experience with others in the community.”