Chile - November 2007
Gary Higson, a Watch Commander at Salford Fire Station, visited Chile in November 2007 as part of Operation Florian. Here is his story….
In Autumn 2007, I was asked to go to Iquique in Chile for Operation Florian, a charity that donates Fire Service equipment and vehicles and provides firefighter and rescue training to communities in need across the world.
Iquique is situated on the Pacific Coast of South America, and is in a desert region subject to a number of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcano eruptions.
The whole of the fire service in Chile is provided by volunteer firefighters. My task, alongside Mark Styzaker, a Watch Commander at Stratford-Upon-Avon Fire Station in Warwickshire, was to deliver training to the firefighters and carry out a scoping report for future assistance.
When I arrived in Chile on 1st November 2007, I was met by a group of local firefighters from No. 11 Victoria Company. I learnt quickly that the little Spanish I knew was somewhat different to the Spanish spoken in Chile so I realised there might be some problems communicating.
Training the volunteers
Over the next two weeks we carried out daily and nightly training sessions with No.11 Victoria Company, as well as volunteers from the other eight companies. On the second weekend we went out into the interior of the region and trained firefighters from the towns and villages of Pica, Matilla, Pozo Almonte, La Tirana, Camiña and Huayco. In the final week we instructed firefighters in the adjoining city of Alto Hospicio. In total we met and instructed over 238 volunteer fire and rescue personnel.
During our time in Chile, Victoria Company responded to many incidents including a severe road traffic collision involving a truck colliding into two other trucks, a bus and eight cars after its brakes failed on a mountain road. The equipment donated by Operation Florian was used for this incident to rescue many of those trapped and injured. At another incident a trapped driver was freed using the seatbelt to pull the brake pedal (a technique that we had demonstrated only days earlier). The firefighters and paramedics commented on the speed of the rescue.
Whilst we did not respond to incidents, we witnessed two dwelling fires attended by Victoria Company. Many of the buildings are constructed from wood and were built in the late 1800s, early 1900s. There are also many unofficial dwellings constructed very close together with potential for rapid fire spread.
GMFRS Watch Commander Gary Higson trains firefighters in ChileAn earthquake interrupts our leaving ceremony
On the final day there was to be a ceremony and formal handing over of Breathing Apparatus equipment to No.1 Spanish Company (COMPAÑIA "ESPAÑOLA" Nº1). Many dignitaries were scheduled to attend and much preparation had been made. However, northern Chile suffered a strong earthquake (7.1 on the Richter Scale) on the day which took out all the electricity supplies to the region, instigated a tsunami warning and evacuation of the city of Iquique. Many of the dignitaries had to cancel as they were required in their official roles in more urgent places. Two hours later, the earthquake was followed by a severe dwelling fire just two blocks from the fire station; all the polished appliances and equipment readied for the evening event were now in active service.
With the power still down, generators were used to power the station and the ceremony went ahead, the band played by moonlight and the catering staff used temporary power to provide an outstanding meal. Speeches were adjusted for the day's events and the ceremony was a success. In true 'Chile time' we returned to our hotel to finish packing at 3am using our mobile phones to provide lighting in the hotel rooms which were still without electricity.
Thank you
I would like to thank the following for helping to make this venture possible:
- Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service;
- Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service;
- Members of Operation Florian;
- Colin Cunliffe and Steve Jordan for guidance and assistance;
- David Foster Barnes for assistance and translation;
- Marcelo Zuñiga, Elías Zuñiga, Narciso Donoso, Edward Howard, in Chile, who made us welcome and catered for all our needs;
- Last but not least Mark Styzaker for teaching me almost as much as he taught the firefighters in Chile.
Find out more about Operation Florian at www.operationflorian.com.