I don’t recall visiting a fire station being on our list for Lima but when living like a local it’s good to know your emergency service providers. Actually my LinkedIn contact, Dante Navarro Pereyra is a paid fire-fighter at the airport and also volunteers at his neighborhood fire station. It’s an important distinction between his paid and volunteer status.
Lima has a population of around 10 million and all city fire services are provided by volunteers. NYC has a population of around 8.5 million and has over 11,000 paid firefighters and over 4,000 EMT/Paramedics. I found that fact kind of staggering.
I was a volunteer firefighter for about 17 years and never once did I have to buy my own gear, supplies, equipment, trucks or ambulances. In Lima the firefighters have to buy their own gear. They also must help pay for everything else or rely on donations. Japan has helped a good deal, even the US Embassy and fire department state-side contribute items they can no longer use.
Fire codes are not very mature here yet, although there is work in progress to improve things. You’ll find fire extinguishers everywhere for us DIY firefighters.
Dante’s station was founded on October 9, 1872 by a bunch of Italians. Today the station has over 200 volunteers and serves as the training station for all the volunteers in the city. The training room is actually pretty nice and I have done classes in much worse. (I may be doing a class for their ambulance crews while we’re here.)
They have a smoke room on the roof and the BBQ floor is used for setting up mazes out of wooden pallets to do blacked-out mask training. Round out the decor with lounge chairs and TV found in any fire station across the world, weight room, kitchen and bathrooms which have all seen plenty of wear.
I’m hoping to stimulate some interest from LinkedIn contacts in the fire service to get some more donations heading this way. These men and women are doing a great job with a lot less than their American cousins. The excitement in Lima is practically non-stop. Next on our tours will be checking out the Hazmat unit stationed in Miliflores! I know Tammy can’t wait.
You, my friend, are steeped in the lore of emergency services. You’ve also got a heart of gold.
You hang around long enough anyone is bound to figure some things out. Thanks Karen.
My phone still shows Chicago weather, Tammy chuckles all the time.
Yeah, yeah…I’ll have to console myself with handknits and jealousy’s bitter tears.
Re: knits. I’m not allowed to buy lovely baby alpaca sweaters because a) the good ones are damned expensive & b) Jan reminds me constantly that my goal is to not live where it gets cold enough to wear baby alpaca sweaters. Damn his logic.
Wow, interesting stuff! Though I only did IT, I worked with the DC Fire Depr so have a tremendous amount of respect for the work firefighters, paramedics & EMTs do. I had a feeling told be connecting with them on you travels. 👍👍
We’ve been to two stations so far and will visit a third Tuesday. Interesting to see the quality of equipment is related to the economic vitality of the district.