Firefighters Crossing Borders (FFCB) was founded in 2000 by Joel Schwarz a Firefighter in Gig Harbor, WA. Joel was on a vacation/mission with his wife in Mexico when he decided to visit some of the local fire houses. He was shocked at the lack of PPE and its poor condition. Joel met with some of the local fire chiefs in these small departments and forged a bond and promised to come back with better gear for his brothers and sisters. Thus FFCB was born. The following year Joel and a few other fellow Gig Harbor Firefighters collected used turnout gear, SCBA's, helmets, and boots that their department was no longer using and drove down in their own cars. During the same trip, firefighters and medical workers also received operational fire ground training as well. “It’s about firefighters helping their brothers and sisters,” says Joel, “I believe they truly appreciated our efforts” he added.

Since then, FFCB, has grown and developed relationships with several cities and emergency service groups though out Mexico. Due to your generosity we provide equipment and apparatus no longer usable in the US, but able to continue saving lives elsewhere.

Tecate remains our primary contact. Through the Tecate FD we have seen much equipment get to smaller departments within the region and Baja. 

We are working hard to bring area departments together to share resources and to bring US departments around to help us assist our brothers and sisters across the border.