Chile Forum

firefighter-emt wrote:Turnout gear (jackets, trousers)
Boots
Helmets
Nozzles and hoses (not sure about Chile's sizing)
Basic medical equipment

Turnout gear (jackets, trousers)
Boots
Helmets
Nozzles and hoses (not sure about Chile's sizing)
Basic medical equipment[/quote]

admin wrote:We have a chilean firefighter station on the line, and they say that the U.S. connections are not compatible, but I am trying to get the exact specs. Chile tends to buy their equipment from Europe as I understand.

Boots, jackets, helmets they say yes.

Medical equipment sounds like the best option according to the feedback I got back. I also got feedback that the firemen are well supplied with boots, jackets, and so on (though that might vary by station).

Can you give any estimate as to how much of each position on your list?

We talked to Temuco fire department. They say they have 80 volunteers trained and ready to go in Temuco, but that they can not put them to use for lack of basic equipment. We have a preliminary list of their needs:

gloves
helmets
jacket
boots
rescue tools, cutting tools
gas detectors
jacks for lifting

we are still working on an international shipping method.

By the way fire fighters were just crying they were so happy.

What we know right now is that there are no charges of any sorts for relief related stuff coming to the country (e.g. taxes, airport fees, any of that silliness).

admin wrote:We have a chilean firefighter station on the line, and they say that the U.S. connections are not compatible, but I am trying to get the exact specs. Chile tends to buy their equipment from Europe as I understand.

Remember Chilean pipe thread connections are BSP (in general, but I don't know anything about fire hoses):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_st ... ipe_thread

Too bad some of these aid offers apparently weren't taken up.

James.

jehturner wrote:
Too bad some of these aid offers apparently weren't taken up.

What do you mean?

I think he was referring to your earlier comment about Chile passing up on some aid:

Also one of the reasons donating personnel is not particularly conducive is that there are more highly trained units (like the LA USAR and Virginia teams) that are more organized and better trained than we are. The LA team was demobilized on Monday because Chile didn't request aid, and it won't make sense to override them and go nonetheless.

Yea, man power does not seem to be the issue. Equipment are what seem to be the most needed.

Being a volunteer firefighter in Chile is something very special and exclusive in Chile. There are normally long waiting list to be accepted in to the training programs.

Yes, that's what I meant, assuming people would come with equipment, but if this is taking care of it better that's great

I went to two fire departments in the area, one of which indicated that there may be federal laws prohibiting the donation of used firefighting equipment due to national security laws enacted after 9/11. I will be calling the Boston Fire Marshall's office first thing on Monday.

I called the Boston Fire Marshall's office which directed me to the Olga Caledonia at the NFPA offices here. I'm going to be patched through to a person who did something similar donating equipment to Ecuador and Haiti, so we'll see how that goes.

Looks like things are going to pick up slowly but surely. All those interested please refer to

http://chile.firefighter-emt.com

for updates.

[[[.....that there may be federal laws prohibiting the donation of used firefighting....]]]

The firefighters here in Bend Oregon have donated 3 fire trucks and a whole bunch of equipment to our sister city in Nicaragua. I doubt that there are federal laws against it, being as how the trucks were flown down on army cargo planes.

If requested, I can contact my local fire station and find out what the rules are.