Chile Forum

Is anyone on this forum a bombero?

If you are, I'd like to ask you some questions.

This being mostly an expat forum, you will be hard pressed to find one working as a bombero. Patagoniax is a great cataloguer of fires however if his latest posted pics are any indication. Most are volunteers and if they do get paid Chileans see it as a vocation and not as a job that would pay what a nurse or teacher makes.

It's actually funny you bring this up. I was considering/looking into volunteering.

I'm not but my son is a member of the Santiago 14th.

El Chupacabra wrote:It's actually funny you bring this up. I was considering/looking into volunteering.

you going to pee on the fires to put them out?

trabajo en progreso wrote:

El Chupacabra wrote:It's actually funny you bring this up. I was considering/looking into volunteering.

you going to pee on the fires to put them out?

I am certain he would be damned good at it, too.

deleted

patagoniax wrote:

trabajo en progreso wrote:

El Chupacabra wrote:It's actually funny you bring this up. I was considering/looking into volunteering.

you going to pee on the fires to put them out?

I am certain he would be damned good at it, too.

hmmm wouldn't enjoy being his bed mate...

nwdiver wrote:I'm not but my son is a member of the Santiago 14th.

NWDIVER,

My query is probably best directed to you, to pass on to your son.

My reason for seeking out any bomberos on this forum is:
I am volunteer firefighter with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. It is custom that when a firefighter visits another country/state/region, they visit a local fire station and gives them a momento (small gift) from his fire brigade or station or organization. My daughter and I will visit Santiago this (southern) summer. I am curious what Chilean bomberos usually exchange, and what momento they would probably prefer to receive, e.g. a patch, a T-shirt?

I'd like to get a couple of T-shirts with "bombero" on them, but I don't know whether they have them.

I noticed that your son's fire station is in the suburb next to Vitacura, where we will be staying while visiting Santiago. So his station might be the most convenient for me to visit.

Re native English-speakers in a bombero company: I probably would not volunteer as a bombero after emigrating. Not understanding what is being said "in the heat of the moment" (bad joke) would be like having a deaf-mute running around a fireground. Not exactly a safe practice.

Andrew/Andrés

The 14th is the British and Commonwealth Company. Only a few speak English, but they are always welcoming to fire fighters from abroad. They are a volunteer company as are all the fire halls in Chile, with the younger guys living in for 1 week a month. Most of the young guys are University students. Their new hall is 3-4 years old, with a pool on the 3rd floor off the formal club room, the pool is for training in water rescues The Company was started by the headmaster of the Grange school. Their fire commander is Princess Anne. They collect patches and other memorabilia.

hey, guys hands off the bomberos. Poke fun at the construction guys, the banking guys, or just guys in general in Chile, but the bombero are sacred in Chile and on this forum. Anyone that runs in to a burning building in their spare time for free, deserves a little respect (either that or they are all crazy).

We worked with them a lot after the earthquake, and everywhere we went in the disaster zone the bomberos were there when no one else was there to help.

Well said admin.

I might add when you see them with the (beer) boot out drop in a 5k note, it's all about the karma.