Firefighters Crossing Borders.org in cooperation with Local Gig Harbor Business men and another non profit called Tapfire.org have begun working on establishing the first department for the town of Ayutla in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Ayutla is approximately 90 minutes south of Guadalajara. We are in the process of procuring a Fire engine and creating the infrastructure needed to begin the newly created Fire department.

FFCB continues its current projects, all donations will be used where there is the most need.

Responding to our need for equipment, Chief Denise Christensen from Whatcom county 14 fire department contacted us with a donation of Turnout coats, pants and helmets. All told 65 sets. The lummi Island fd added 20 sets to the total. Joel and Tyson drove up to Sumas,Washington on the 28th of March to pick up the donations. They will be added to our inventory and dispursed to our friends south of the border. Thank you to Whatcom 14 and Lummi Island fd

Captain Franco called me today to inform me that the two engines picked up from Turlock FD, Ca have arrived at the border. After the proper paperwork, they will be brought into the country and placed into service. We hope to drill with them when we arrive at the end of april.

As of March 20th Firefighters crossing borders.org will no longer need the sponsorship of another 501c3 organization. The IRS has notified us that our application filed in 2006 has been approved. Our thanks go out to FRDP.org for being our sponsor for tax deductible status for the past several years. 

We are now our own entity and are planning on moving forward as we grow.

We have 4 instructors committed to take the equipment we have accumulated over the year to our friends in Tecate and our new friends in Ensenada. We are working with our member, Retired Captain Soliz to make an inroad with the Ensenada fire department. This will make the third FD we will be working with in the region. We look forward to our trip and seeing old friends. Training will also be exciting as we build on previous years work.

It will be great to see the changes in the departments and the area since our last visit.

We are looking to organize trips to our other fire department friends in Mexico, so if interested please contact us.

In Late January Turlock Fd in Turlock Ca promised two fire engines to Tecate Fire. To date Both Departments are working on the logistics for delivery. This will  make the second and third engine we were able to arrange for Tecate in the past year.

When we visit in Late April we will have three new pieces of apparatus to work into our training.