Reservists send firetruck to Guatemala for humanitarian relief

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Team Homestead Reservists from the 70th Aerial Port Squadron teamed up with the 300th Airlift Squadron out of Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, to deliver a firetruck to La Antigua, Guatemala April, 2.

The firetruck was donated by the City of Coral Gables, Florida, and flown in on a C-17 Globemaster III. Coral Gables Mayer Jim Cason was in attendance to watch the process.

More than 30 Airmen from the 70th APS spent several hours loading and securing the firetruck into the C-17. Specialized wooden ramps, called shoring kits, were built to ensure the firetruck could be loaded safely. Once the firetruck made it inside, Airmen poured in and set chains along the bottom and sides of it along with wooden blocks underneath the suspension to prevent it from bouncing during landings and turbulence.

"Initially, I saw this as an opportunity to provide real-world aerial port experience for my Airmen, but it became obvious that it was much more than that," said Chief Master Sgt. Tony Rodriguez, the 70th APS superintendent. "These firetrucks will be used to the benefit of an entire community. This is life-saving equipment that the Antigua Fire Department does not have on hand and lacks the budget to acquire it commercially. This will be the only vehicle of its type in the entire county of Guatemala."

More than 45,000 people live in the area in and around La Antigua will be served by those operating the firetruck.

The year-long process of getting the firetruck to La Antigua was made possible by the Denton Cargo Program.

"The Denton Program allows for private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport goods to countries in need," said Rodriguez.

A second firetruck is working its way through the approval process and is likely to make to La Antigua in the near future.