On August 31, 2009 Executive Director Joel Schwarz spoke at a ceremony at the Hurst plant in Shelby, North Carolina. With Director Scott Booth we accepted 115 cutters and spreaders along with a few power units after Hursts 6 month program to offer money to trade in old tools for new technology. They refurbished the tools and donated them to us. These tools although still working are mostly from the 70s and 80s and they did not feel comfortable keeping them in service here in the US.
We will be sending these tools to central Mexico and in a partnership with a Hurst master vendor Importadora Fabregat, those tools will be given free along with a one year service warrantee to any agency that purchases a power plant. Currently talks with several state governments to assist agencies purchase the sets are in play.

Any group interested in helping a particular agency can contact us through the website and inquire to participate in this deal. Shipping will be free to anywhere in mexico and we will soon be inviting many firefighters to a training symposium that will occur to help put these tools in service.

We encourage our brothers and sisters that work with agencies throughout central and south america to utilize this tremendous program. Our goal was to get as many tools in the hands of our brothers and sisters in other countries and we believe this will happen. Firefighters Crossing Borders will not make any money on this deal. All transactions will go through Importadora Fabregat who as we have found is excited to be helping firefighters and emergency responders in his own country and those in other countries.

Through the efforts and interest of Asst Chief Ryan Baskett of Graham Fire and Rescue in Graham, Washington we now have many more sets of turnouts, boots, and other equipment. Thanks to the crew that helped us load up and we are looking forward to seeing Ryan on one of our mission trips in the future. We are always looking for interested instructors who have varying interests and skills. Bill Billings, one of the most senior FFs from Graham who is on the County Hazmat Team has expressed interest in helping out where he can. Hazmat is of particular interest down in Mexico and we hope to put together something ongoing in that arena.

Recently Woodinville Fire from Washington state donated several pieces of equipment and among them a Physio-control Life Pak 5. Now those reading this who know, started their careers with this monitor and it has endeared itself in our hearts. This equipment will be serviced and placed where needed most for us in the Northern Baja of Mexico. Stay tuned as we are expecting several Life Pak 10s coming soon.

With these pieces we can really enhance the ems care provided to the customers of emergency agencies in several areas of Mexico and beyond. If anyone out there knows where we can obtain batteries and chargers for these devices please let us know through the contact page of our website.
Thanks for your interest.

On August 31 Directors Joel Schwarz with Wife Debi, and Scott Booth will be in Shelby North Carolina at the Hurst plant to accept the donation of 115 cutters and spreaders, 10 power plants, and 20 hoses. Thanks to Aaron Guenther and Bill Simmons at Hurst, Dominec LiCastro, Senior Sales Manager
Parker Hannifin Corporation makers of hydraulic hose, and Enrique Fabregat President of Importadora Fabrigat SA a Hurst master vendor who donated the 10 power plants and will coordinate the distribution of the tools in mexico and South America.

Following the event we will begin working on recruiting instructors for the several training missions we will sponsor in order to train those receiving the tool sets. If interested please fill out the contact information and include expertise and interests. Someone from our group will be in contact.

SHELBY, N.C. – (Business Wire) Hurst, the inventor and manufacturer of the ‘Jaws of Life’ will donate more than 115 rescue tools worth more than $130,000. Additionally, more than $51,500 in power units is being donated by Hurst’s Latin American master distributor in Mexico, Importada Fabregat, S.A. Read the rest of this entry »

Monday August 31, 2009 Representatives from FFCB will be in Shelby, North Carolina to receive in a ceremony the 115 cutters and spreaders that are being donated to us. Through a partnership started over a year ago, Hurst (makers of the Jaws of Life) completed a trade in campaign whereby they allowed up to $1000 credit for a trade in tool toward the purchase of new. In 6 months they acquired over 125 tools and after refurbishing and using parts, 115 tools were ready to go.

Hurst’s goal was to try to get older less safe tools off the streets of the US and sent to areas served by FFCB.
In those areas the tools will be a usefull improvement over broken or no hydraulic equipment. Along with the tools we will be working with a local vendor in Guadalajara to bring training to those receiving the tools.

A note: The cutters and spreaders are without power units and to get them into the hands of those who need them we arranged with the Guadalajara vendor to include a cutter and spreader with each power unit sold at a discount. I

In this way we can get complete sets out to not only Mexico but throughout central and south america. The State of Jalisco has agreed to assist the agencys in their state in acquiring these sets and support the training to come. Hurst will be sending out a news release soon on this.

Wednesday we went up to King and Whatcom County, Washington to pick up donations from several departments, bringing back a full truckload and trailer of Turnouts and equipment. Thanks to the departments and all the firefighters who were patient and helpfull in making this equipment available to us.

Arriving recently we have two sets of new door magnets check them out. Donated by one of our members, these will help increase our visibility around the area and when we pick up donations and on our missions.

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!