This year’s devastating fire season in California provides a stark reminder on how important firefighters are to our communities. Wildfires are growing more dangerous and costly, creating greater pressure on firefighters to work longer hours and to put their lives in danger for the sake of our welfare. 2016’s Erskine, Sand, Soberanes, ChimQDney, Clayton and Blue Cut fires are some of the largest and most damaging that have ever affected our state, requiring the most skilled firefighters to battle these conflagrations.
Imagine what it is like in communities that lack proper funding and the necessary infrastructure to adequately train and prepare their fire departments. In such places across the globe, the charity Firefighters Without Borders steps in to provide professional training, education, resources and support. Since its inception, Firefighters Without Borders has trained teams of volunteers from Peru to Canada while also coordinating the donation of over $250,000 in firefighting and medical services equipment.
A portion of the funding comes from sales of their popular Firefighter Calendar, which is smoking hot, but for all of the right reasons. In this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times we share some of the best images from the 2017 calendar, as well as favorite ones from earlier editions. The featured individuals are actual volunteer firefighters from the Canadian cities of Mississauga, Toronto, Durham and Markham.
“We are thrilled to kick off our next fundraising campaign with the launch of the 2017 Firefighter Calendar,” said Russell Chalmers, who is President of Firefighters Without Borders. “Firefighters around the world continue to be challenged to stay on top of the latest fire service techniques. Firefighters Without Borders ‘train the trainer’ approach brings knowledge that can be shared with a broader fire fighter team equipping tomorrow’s heroes and saving more lives.”
The 2017 Firefighter Without Borders Calendar is 14 months with 13 different firefighters who represent the hardworking men and women in the fire service today, as well as Molly, the Ajax Fire Service mascot. The calendar is 16 glossy pages with a finished size of 8.25” wide and 10.5” high.
“Our organization is founded by passionate volunteers dedicated to helping their fellow fire service professionals save more lives,” said Darius Kharazmi, Director of Volunteers for Firefighters Without Borders. “The calendar helps to raise awareness for firefighters around the world who don’t have access to the level of training that we do. Since the Firefighters Without Borders team cover 100% of their travel expenses, it allows the funds raised to be allocated to the timely shipping of equipment, (to) public education and more.”
FWB offers fire service organizations around the globe help via the following training programs: First Aid and CPR, Hazardous Materials Response, Vehicle Extrication, Incident Management, Fire Suppression and Vehicle and Small Engine Maintenance. The volunteer team also conducts public education seminars in fire prevention for both children and adults, believing that prevention is the key to saving more lives. In addition, the team has received donations of fire service equipment from fire stations. These items will be distributed where such materials are needed the most.
The calendar will soon be available for purchase online at http://firefighterswithoutborders.ca/ Check for updates on the calendar and other Firefighters Without Borders news via social media at https://www.facebook.com/firefighterswithoutborders and https://twitter.com/fwbdotca
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