NRCAER "mutual aid" benefits Firefighters in Paraguay
Understanding local response resources and capabilities, as well as building
the necessary connections to access them are among the primary reasons
industries and municipalities are members of Northeast Region Community
Awareness Emergency Response (NRCAER). Recently, the local mutual aid
emergency response group linked up with the Alberta Society for Firefighters
Abroad (ASFA), making an impact in South America.
ASFA's mission is to build the capacity and safety of firefighters and
emergency services abroad through apparatus, equipment and training
projects. Their current initiative is 'Project Paraguay' and to date, 20
fire departments have received much-needed resources.
NRCAER first learned of Project Paraguay through Trevor Griffith, Dow's
Emergency Response Manager, following Dow's fire truck donation to the
project in 2019. "We put out a mutual aid call to our members and
approximately 40 sets of firefighting gear have been generously
contributed," says Brenda Gheran, NRCAER Executive Director.
"We thank NRCAER for their donation, which helps protect firefighter
safety," says Eric Nicholas with ASFA. "Fire departments in Paraguay have
limited resources, so we are always looking for donations that will
strengthen and sustain these departments into the future."
More information and ways to support Project Paraguay can be found at
Alberta Society for Firefighters Abroad - Project Paraguay on Facebook.