Isn’t eastern Washington supposed to be warm and sunny this time of year? feeling like I am on the west side today I traveled to Pasco, Wa to pick up a donation from a small volunteer dept in Benton County. Recently formed they got more ppe than they needed and contacted us to donate. From the large and small departments I am ever impressed at the generosity of those that serve their communities.

On the way back I have another stop to pick up some medical supplies and one of our own FF/PM Geoff North is loading up his van with equipment destined for Mexico and beyond.
Joel

We are still working on our website and will be posting more pictures soon. Stay tuned!

We arrived in Tacoma about 1430 this afternoon and dropped off Scott at home. What service!!Mark, Greg and Joel headed to Gig Harbor station 51 to get Greg to his truck and off we went.

We are already working toward our next mission to Baja and hope to see some new instructors heading with us in 2010. It’s always neat when someone new comes. For me it’s that we get to see the expressions and the interactions between the Bomberos and our group magnified in the eyes of someone coming down for the first time. Always a great perspective, we hope to see Greg write a testimony of his experience and post it on this site.

On behalf of the directors of our organization, thanks to all those who visited with us and followed our progress on the most successfull Baja mission to date.  Soon to be posted will be information on how to obtain one of our beautiful organization T-shirts. Check back soon!       Joel Schwarz, Executive Director FFCB

A long day of driving. Left Sacramento this AM and made it to Salem 534 miles later. Here we are unloading all of the equipment that we have been picking up along the way. This equipment is destined for Culiacan Mexico. Scott at Staton Fire Station 1 is helping with bringing together all of the equipment in one location to go into a container for a large shipment to Culiacan. A special thanks to Scott and Staton Fire for the help.

We also want to give props to our spouses for supporting us in our mission. They are home holding down the fort and some are being single moms on top of everything else. This is a lot to ask and they get little recognition for their sacrifice. So for our spouses… THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

Mark

You ever have a busy day where you accomplished alot, or finished a project, stepping back and realizing that all that work went into that and you feel you accomplished something? I think we are all feeling that as we drive back home and the things that were accomplished are already being put behind us as we move forward toward the next mission.

Arriving at Steve and Patty’s around midnite last nite after having stopped back in Mariposa for another 50 or so air paks, we drifted off to much needed sleep.

In the morning Scott and Joel took the truck and headed up to Placerville where the guys at Statin 23 helped load the last 80 scba bottles of the total 200 they donated to FFCB. A beautiful area, the Placerville guys were gracious and were very interested in our missions and what was done with the first 120 bottles picked up last week and put into service in Tecate.

While we were up in the mountains, Mark and Greg were servicing the trailer and rumaging for sustenense as we had the pickup.

Once reunited off we went to San Francisco for the day. We parked at Emeryville station 1 and took the BART (rapid transport) to San Fran. A quick walk and some seafood, we wandered back to Station 2 where Captain Marks and the crews from both stations were waiting for us with a prepared meal. Awesome firehouse cooking. We hung out and got along great. Lots of questions were asked regarding our trip and we discussed some of their trips recently taken with other agencies.

One thing cool thing we did tody was extend some help to a local group called “Random Acts” which is run by an Oakland Fire Firefighter. Since we didn’t need all 80 of our bottles we offered half to their organization for use in Nicaragua. Gratefully they accepted and we will be dropping them off en route back home, possibly Thursday.

After returning back to our home in Ca, (Sacramento is 90 miles from Emerryville) I can see why they like their 48-96 schedule.

A short visit with Patti Marks and we are off to bed. We have a long drive tomorrow.

Started the day leaving Capt. Smith’s house, picked up the trailer and headed north. The weather is great. First stop was to pick up my pillow in Bakersfield. Now I can sleep again. Next stop is Mariposa where we are picking up some equipment, still about an hour and a half away. Then to Steve and Patty’s for the night. This will be a long day, just  like california. Luckly we have my spacious cab (F350 extra cab 3dr). Oh yah… LUXURY!!! Greg is not feeling so well. Sure glad we are in such close quarters. Might as well give in to the inevitable. Hopefully no one else will get sick before making it home. Tune in tomorrow!

Once we were state-side we headed north to SDFD Station #19 (where Marcelo works; E19) and dropped off the trailer so we could get around a little better.  Our 1st stop in SD was the SDFD Museum, where Nick and Michael were kind enough to stay late and let us rumage around thier antiques (several apparatus’, equipment, etc.; the museum is actually an old station); VERY COOL!!!!  Wish them both well as they continue to test for career FF jobs.

Our next stop was to Firehouse Brewery, a top notch business owned by two of SDFD’s finest, Capt. Chris Finch and FF JT Finch.  We were treated to all of their beers (Leatherhead was my favorite) and an in depth tour of their operation.  Mark and JT talked “brewing” while the rest of us enjoyed the product and listened without really understanding.  Look for Firehouse in Washington by summer!!!!

Our last stop of the day was to the home of FFCB’s own Capt. Rich Smith of Santee Fire.  His wife Toni, and daughters Kaila and Jenna, were welcoming and treated us far too well.  We were set up for the night and shared pictures and videos our this years training with Rich (he was unable to come down this year due to a work conflict).  Rich was jonesing for getting down to Tecate and spending some time with the Bomberos, and again pledged to be with us next year.

Tune in soon for our commentary about Monday……  Drive On!!! 

Continuing our whirl wind mission, yesterday (Sunday March 29) we had our last Tecate breakfast at the el Mejor (www.elmejor.com) panaderia (bakery). Before hooking up the trailer we went to the first Tecate  firefighter academy which started in February and is held every sunday till Oct 09. This is a big step for Tecate as the Government will be hiring several new FFs from this class of young new firefighters mixed in with several current Volunteers. As we walked to where the class was standing at attention under guidance of an Army drill sargent, the class was practicing their goose step. When they would make a mistake they were directed to do push ups and after the second or third set all four of us ran up and joined in, Push ups at first then we learned how to goose step with the class.

When the class was dismissed they had 10 minutes to assemble in the classroom where the instructors, Chief Villalobos from Tecate fire, Volunteer director Capt Casillas and we were standing in front of the class. They wanted to show us a demonstration of what they are learning and two recruits were chosen  to simulate a choking victim and carried it to CPR. Done correctly, they were impressive. Finally the widdy widdy began with a speech from Chief Villalobos.

What is a widdy widdy you ask?  Our Liason, Ret Captain Franco Soliz always would come up with the most unusual phrases and one year when we arrived and everyone was waiting for us he coined this phrase. I don’t know if its an actual word but from then on we called any ceremony “widdy widdy” We use it like it should be in the dictionary.

Any how, All the instructors were introduced as well as the four of us. The chief talked about another great year of training and pledged to continue the training and introduced a recent development with Tijuana were by they will be sending trainers monthly to help Tecate further develope their standard practices. Great news!  We recieved beautiful certificates of appreciation for us and those back home who have helped us this past year.  After the widdy widdy we went to our last Lunch with Capt. Marcos Garambullo and it was back to the station to pick up the trailer and on to the border.

I guess knowing the right people helps because no sooner than hooking up the trailer we found a Tecate Policia vehicle waiting to escort us to the front of the line at the border. Imagine Lights and sirens with our truck and trailer following through the streets of Tecate. After a quick inspection we were back in the USA. And this was just the morning. more to come.

We got to sleep in today with an 08:30 wake up call.  Breakfast at the Istancia Inn was once again like every other meal we have had, Perfecto. 

Our day was reserved for shopping, and we have chosen to spend most of our money in Tecate supporting the local community.  They have certainly treated us with respect, and have taken great care of us.  Marcos Garambullo, Capitan from Bomberos de Tecate is our shopping guide today and drives a 1975 Fiat Spider Convertble so we took turns riding in it and looking cool.  We understand it is snowing at home, but it is definately convertible weather here.

Our first stop was at a pottery factory.  I am sure that this is the guy……that clay pot that all of you have on your front portch, living room, floor or out in the yard was made here.   The factory was huge and we got to check out the two large outdoor wood fired kilns and watch potters in action hand making, and designing graphics.  They even make chimineze (outdoor clay fire places) which is just what Greg is looking for.  After spending a while in awe watching these craftsman we went to the warehouse and began shopping.  Pallets and pallets of pots, vases, and chimeneze and normally the ones we wanted were in the back so we had to do some pallet shuffling.  After all is done we ended up with 16 pieces to fit safely back in the trailer for the long ride home.  Greg may not be driving so they make it there safely.  We did pick up three pots that we will be offering up at our next FFCB fundraiser. Not sure if they will be raffled, auctioned or what but we are sure our wives will be fierce competitors so bring lots of money.

Off to cruize downtown with a stop at the park where on weekends they have live music and a street market.  Met a group of Americans from Idaho and Eastern Washington who are building a church in Tecate, and I believe the only americans we have seen since we entered the country, except for Bomberos de SanDiego.  We stopped at a Jewlery Store where Joel got his watch repaired for 2pesos and then we had another fabulous meal of Tortas. Thank you Capitan.  After lunch we visited a tile store that didn’t have what Mark was looking for, but did remember Mark from last year.  I am not sure that was such a good thing, I heard soomething about “Bakering.” The other street fair that we drove by in the morning was closed when we got there so we tried one last tile store which was also closed.  We will try and pull some strings to see if they will open on Sunday for us.

Last stop of the night was for dinner at the family of Melicio Martinez another brother Bomberos de Tecate. A huge spread of chicken, pasta salad, Pico, cactus, and more.  What a beautiful family. Scott entertained us by fliting with 5 year old Lalona and repeating the words Te ama several times trying to teach Greg to say I love you in espanaol.   Mark on the other hand was talking about horses with grafitti on them????? Or painted horses, or soemthing like that.. Mrs. Martinez shared a few shots of her prized Tequilla which she brought home from her last trip to see her family in Tequilla, Guada La Hara.  Coffee and Coconut flavored are pretty smooth and very tasty.  Joel has a new favorite.  Muchos Gracias to the whole family.

Our last day in Mexico will be Sunday and we plan to attend the Tecate Bomberos academy in the morning, try the tile shop, and then run for the border for an afternoon in SanDiego.  It is 6:30 am on Sunday now, Greg typed this blog last night but didn’t save it so now he is doing it again.  Adios Amigos tell we speak again and we are bringing the sun home with us..

We arrived in Tijuana bright and early this AM for Day 2 of the training being led by the Bomberos de San Diego (with help from the Chula Vista, CA firefighters).  The five Station rotation kept all the Bomberos busy througout the day.  Both Tecate and Tijuana were represented at today’s training.  The CA fireifghters brought their “A” game, facilitating a very challenging and fun program.  Those guys just ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!

While the CA guys were doing all the “work”, the FFCB contingent were “assisting” with the training evolutions and being entertained by Tijuana Fire’s own Battalion Chief Padilla (a top notch, fantastic guy).  We got some shopping in (for our families), one emergency response (a structure fire out prior to our arrival), and an amazing lunch at the Centro Estacion in Tijuana (prepared by the Fleet Maintenance staff).  We feasted on Cerviche, Pulpo (octopus), and Marlin.  What an amazing meal!!!!

We wrapped the day around 5pm with an informal awards ceremony led by the Tijuana Fire Chief, Chief Raphael Carrillo.  Both the instructional staff and students received certificates from Tijuana Fire, as well as a heart felt thanks for the tremendous effort this week.  The training was an amazing success and we look forward to being able to get together again in the future.

We’re off to bed, and actually get to sleep in past 6am tomorrow….. Yeah!!!  Until next time.