South Bend Fire Department donates gear to Guatemala
The South Bend Fire Department recently sent their old firefighting gear to Guatemala.
And in response, the volunteer firefighters sent back a big thank you through a video.
This is the second time that the fire department has done this, the first coming in 2019.
This all starting in 2018, when a volcano erupted killing more than 200 people.
A Guatemalan man living in South Bend, Carlos Baldizon, realized a lot of these fire departments are made up of volunteers with a lack of equipment.
He asked the fire department what can be done, which is when he learned firefighting suits have a 5 year lifespan, according to OSHA guidelines.
Baldizon said, this most recent donation helped many different volunteer departments.
"The second batch which was 225 suits with a total of 4000 pounds. People from the stations travelled 600 miles." said Carlos Baldizon, Assisting SBFD in donating gear."
Baldizon points to a video with the smiling faces when these firefighters received gear that will greatly help save lives.
He said, this is not a partnership with South Bend and Guatemala, but a brotherhood.
"Beautiful experience and how happy and grateful those people are they're volunteer fireman they are there because they love to do what they do." said Baldizon."
Fire Chief Carl Buchanon hosted Baldizon on April 17th, to show the video to city officials at the Board of Public Safety Meeting.
Buchanon said, seeing how proud these brave volunteers are to wear South Bend on the back is a very surreal moment.
"When I see others proud to wear, from another country, proud to wear the South Bend Fire Department . It is very emotional for me because I love representing the South Bend Fire Department . I love doing what I do and just see others with that on their backs, it was very emotional." said Chief Carl Buchanon, South Bend Fire Department."
The fire departments in Guatemala insist on keeping South Bend on their suits to show their gratitude to the city that continues to help them.