It’s been eight months since the Castlegar Fire Department said goodbye to Engine No. 3 and sent it off to be delivered to San Pedro Pochutla, a community in southern Mexico.
Drivers from Firefighters Without Borders Canada set off on the journey, and all went well until they reached the Mexico border. In between the time that the engine left Castlegar and arrived at the border, a Mexican law changed and new paperwork was required.
The engine — loaded with donated gear — had to be left in the custody of the Pharr, Texas Fire Department while paper work was filed and arrangements were made.
READ MORE: Castlegar Fire Department donates engine to Mexican community
People on both sides of the US/Mexico border rallied and worked together to get the engine to its new home — a small community in desperate need of fire equipment. The local Rotary Club was tasked with the paperwork and fundraising to get the truck through the final leg of the journey.
On June 22 the engine finally reached its destination to the cheers of a waiting crowd. The engine was paraded through the streets of Pochutla with lights and sirens blazing.
“I can’t believe how excited they were to receive a 30-year-old truck,” said Castlegar Fire Chief Sam Lattanzio. “It was awesome to see that they are so excited to receive something that is no longer useful here, but is desperately needed down there. It is a good feeling.”
“I plan to go see it some day,” concluded Lattanzio.
