July 2012 - First shipment of equipment arrives for Bahia de Banderas!

On July 4, 2012 the first shipment of vehicles and equipment arrived for Bahia de Banderas fire department. The shipment included two ambulances, one fire engine and a lot of firefighting equipment.

The fire engine was purchased by FFCB with funds donated by Grupo Sayulita, a group of Americans and Canadians in Sayulita working to improve their community in the municipality of Bahia de Banderas. The fire engine was trailer to a staging area provided by Phoenix Fire Department. This fire engine and one of the donated ambulances will go into service in the newly created fire station in Sayulita.

The ambulances were donated by American Legion Post No 108 in Jackson CA and transportation funds to Phoenix were provided by the Jackson Rotary Club. Two volunteers and Regional Representative Brian Singleton drove the ambulances to Phoenix.

Alfonso Ramirez, director of Bahia Protection Civil, flew to Phoenix and assisted Brian load the vehicles with donated equipment and drive them to the Nogales border crossing. After 5 hours at customs...... they were joined by Bahia firefighters who were waiting in Nogales Mexico. Together they began the 29 hour road trip home. All were very tired but excited when they arrived about 11:30 pm on July 4th.

A week later the vehicles and equipment were presented to a grateful President and people of Bahia de Banderas.