Nicaragua 2021 - Esteli

In June 2021, we shipped a fire truck to Nicaragua! The 1989 LTC Ford pumper truck was retired from service in Ontario but still in excellent condition and it was gratefully accepted by El Benemerito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Esteli (BCBE). BCBE provides fire and rescue service to the city of Esteli in Nicaragua. This truck will serve a new sub-station of BCBE in the town of La Trinidad to provide better coverage of the area between Leon and Esteli.

As with the previous truck we donated to Nicaragua, the logistics for this truck required a great deal of coordination. In partnership with the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program, a flight was arranged on a US Air Force C-5 Galaxy for our fire truck, our donation of bunker suits, boots, helmets, hose, nozzles and GlobalMedic's Emergency Food Kits and Family Emergency Kits. While waiting for its flight, our truck was stored at and cared for by Reid Bros Truck Service in Belleville.

Because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, we had the truck towed from Reid Bros to the Air Force base in Niagara Falls, NY. This was made possible with funds raised by Patricia Celio who also fundraised for the transport of the truck we sent to Nicaragua last year. The bunker gear and GlobalMedic's kits were trucked from GlobalFire's HQ to the Air Force base. Members of the 30th Aerial Port Squadron received our donation and loaded it onto the C-5 Galaxy for its flight to Nicaragua.

On June 3, 2021, the truck and humanitarian cargo was received by BCBE at the Managua Airport and transported back to Esteli to help the local firefighters better serve their community.