The U.S. government, through the Embassy’s military group, delivered top quality protective equipment to the firefighters of El Salvador, on March 21. This donation is valued at $2,140,088 and will help firefighters have the necessary tools to protect Salvadorans.
The presentation ceremony was presided by U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador William H. Duncan, and the Director of the Fire Department of El Salvador Major Baltazar Solano Flores. The donation includes 225 firefighter suits (jackets, pants, and helmets), with a total value of $804,019. In addition, 96 self-contained breathing apparatuses (compressed air), valued at $1,246,889, were also delivered.
“On behalf of the U.S. government, I express my deepest appreciation for your sacrifice over the years. I am honored to know that my government supports your cause, and we have done so for many years,” said Ambassador Duncan during his speech.
This act of solidarity reflects the U.S. government’s continued commitment to strengthen and support first responders in El Salvador. In early March, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) El Salvador donated $15,000 worth of tools to the Fire Department, which were assigned to 38 brigades. Additionally, the Embassy’s Military Corps donated a training tower in July 2021 valued at more than $835,431,000.
The state-of-the-art equipment not only improves the safety of Salvadoran firefighters, but also strengthens the country’s capacity to deal with emergency situations.