About Baja California

Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California. It has an area of 70,113 km² (27,071 sq mi), or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises the northern half of the Baja California peninsula, north of the 28th parallel. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Sonora, the U.S. State of Arizona, and the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez), and on the south by Baja California Sur. Its northern limit is the U.S. state of California.

The state has a population of 2,844,469 (2005 census), and estimated 3,165,776 (June 2009) much more than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south, and similar to San Diego County, California on its north. Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city, Mexicali, in Ensenada, or in Tijuana. Other important cities include San Felipe, Rosarito and Tecate.

Baja California is where it all began, our visit to Tecate in 1999 started us on our path. We began working with the city of Tecate and the Bomberos from around the state. We have been working to bring agencies representing millions of citizens in the State together for more collaborative training and operations. Where borders were distinct and rarely crossed there is now more mutual assistance and development of resources.

In 2009, we began working with the group Bomberos De San Diego, a group of San Diego Fire firefighters that work in the area doing similar work. We partnered to bring training to Tecate initially and eventually worked in Tijuana Bomberos and were able to organize regional training at both Tecate and Tijuana inviting bomberos from around the area. Today, being one of the largest Cities in Mexico, we regularly rely on these Bomberos to assist us in our training.

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Mission Day 1

on 19 April 2008. Posted in Baja California

After leaving around 0130 after some reloading and showers we hit the road. Snow flurries in Washington and then oregon, who would have thought. Travel went smoothly except for the trailer which we knew we would have to work with . Around sunday we found out that our original trailer was no longer available and we had to scramble for another.

Along come Seattle Firefighter based ERTI (Emergency Response Training Institute) to the rescue with a trailer. We loaded Friday and found out that there were some brake troubles then as well. We discussed it and decided we would try to make it the way it was. It was not to be. We are here in Grants Pass OR in the Blue Stone Cafe and Bakery, Tyson, Scott and myself facing off with battling laptops spending the next 5 hours going over our lesson plans and blogging waiting for the trailer brakes to be rebuilt.

We could not make it any farther and found a Les Schwab here to work on the trailer. When we called ERTI to tell them they, without question , agreed to cover the costs of the rebuild. Thanks to Mark we were able to get this far and will be smooth sailing from here. We hope to roll in to Sacramento tonite and then on to Mariposa to pick up a donation destined for Culiacan by way of Turlock who is donating a telesquirt engine to them. We will load it up before its shipped and visit with friends in both cities. Then on to Mexico. Check with us as our mission unfolds.

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