Minneapolis donates two fire trucks to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
A group of Minneapolis firefighters recently gathered at Fire Station Six in south Minneapolis to bid safe journey to a fire crew from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico who left with two fire trucks that Minneapolis donated to that community. A crew of four San Jose del Cabo firefighters arrived in Minneapolis the week of March 14, 2005 to pick up the donated rigs and drive them back to Mexico.
San Jose del Cabo, a city in Baja, Mexico has a population of 100,000 people. The fire department, with one fire station and one substation, is operated on a budget that is entirely made up of donations. The stations are staffed by 11 paid and 35 volunteer firefighters and respond to about 8,000 emergency calls a year.
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A crew from San Jose del Cabo Fire Department prepares to drive the donated fire trucks back to Mexico. The trucks were retired when replacement parts were no longer available. The trucks will be modified for use in their community. |
Minneapolis retires fire trucks when they no longer meet National Fire Protection Association standards for the community our size or when parts are no longer available. Smaller fire departments from within the United States and outside the country, apply to the Minneapolis Fire Department to have these vehicles donated. In the case of these two vehicles, the Minneapolis ladder company that equipped the rigs went out of business in 1986 and parts were no longer available. However, the San Jose del Cabo needed a couple of fire trucks and will be able to make modifications to meet the needs of the community.
March 22, 2005