Honduran Officials Neglected to Ask US Firefighters for Help
Thursday, 16 February 2012 12:13
Honduras Weekly
Captain Candace Allen, a spokesperson for United States Southern Command's Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo) at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras said yesterday that the reason US military firefighting and search and rescue teams from the base were not dispatched to fight the fire at the National Penitentiary in Comayagua on Tuesday night is that no one asked. Although JTF-Bravo did respond by providing equipment and supplies such as surgical masks, flashlights, and glow sticks, the unit could not mobilize its firefighters without a request from a Honduran official and a chain of command order. There was no request from Governor Paola Castro of the department of Comayagua, nor from Mayor Carlos Miranda of the municipality of Comayagua, nor from the city's fire chief, nor from the administrator of the prison, nor from the director of the national prison system, Danilo Orellana, nor from President Porfirio Lobo.
US firefighters regularly conduct joint exercises with Honduran firefighters. On October 21, 2011, airmen from the 612th Air Base Squadron's fire department hosted a one-week fire muster challenge at Soto Cano. Honduran firefighters and Soto Cano servicemembers competed in six events simulating basic firefighting skills. The competition included a relay litter carry, a hoisting and chopping simulation, a bunker-gear run, a hose drag and a water bucket carry event. "This event was held to build camaraderie between the base populace and the Honduran firefighters," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Nix, 612th ABS assistance chief of fire prevention.
Despite these well-known relationship building exercises, no local Honduran official thought to place a call to Soto Cano, located less than 15 minutes away. (2/16/12) (photo of JTF-Bravo and Honduran firefighters training courtesy JTF-Bravo)
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