Chile Forum

We have some firefighters in the U.S. trying to coordinate shipping and delivery of supplies. Anyone that can offer assistance with this project, please coordinate here.

i have a large house that could be used as a base for them to come and help.....a house near one of the hardest hit areas....no water or electricity, but lots of firewood!

Good I was just about to PM you about this.

It looks like at this point they want to donate equipment. The guy we are in contact with should be along shortly.

We are getting in touch with the Bomberos of Temuco, to get national coordination contacts. Silvia Reyes from our office is coordinating it on our end, as her father is a firefighter here in Temuco.

Progress notes:

I've dispatched emails to:
Continental, Delta, American, LAN Chile. Continental replied by saying that they have forwarded my note to their cargo group, but that they don't fly to Chile (stupid me). American Airlines replied with a rather generic response about how they allow excess baggage.

I've also asked people who are part of Facebook groups for Chile/South American firefighters to see and understand need. I remain optimistic and completely open to suggestions, ideas and direction.

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.

Maybe approach a few of the bigger multinationals that are here in chile (accounting, law, mining firms etc) to see if they'd be willing to pay for the freight. Offer free advertising for them in whatever media outlets you have access to and explain the function of the forum etc, it is worth a shot.

sorry, I just got my internet and communications back after being off-line all day.

How much cargo space do you need in volumetric kilos, or approximate dimensions and weight?

We have use of private plane in Southern Chile. We are still working out the details.

Our big concern is getting shipments in to the country, then having it not get where it needs to go. So, we are trying to work this problem from both ends.

Good news: just talked to Randy at Continental and they may be able to work things out. I'm going to start assembling stuff together now. What I need to know is what is most needed for local fire departments there. Only then can I really get the ball rolling on this end.

Do you have any sort of inventory list?

We have pretty much the usual:

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

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.

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).