A long-time Delta firefighter recently took his expertise on the road.
Dave Ayton has been with the department for 15 years, and was a volunteer firefighter before that. He recently returned from a volunteer deployment to Belize City with the Fire Rescue International Training Association.
Established in 2012, the association was formed with the sole focus of providing training-based international aid.
Ayton already helps with training his fellow firefighters here at home - he teaches emergency vehicle operation - and jumped at the chance to volunteer abroad.
The organization sends firefighters from around North America, who all volunteer their time, to help train firefighters in less-developed countries.
Ayton said the first three This year, it's sending days were spent meeting teams to five countries - the fire chief in Belize City Belize, Chile, Panama, El before moving on to the Salvador and Colombia. military base to start training.
"Our belief is that shared knowledge through
"They were all very training has the greatest willing to learn and were value for our brothers and excited to have us there," sisters serving their communities he said, adding firefighters as first responders in any country are no different. in countries around the world," the association
"Basically their attitude states on its website. and their willingness to learn is no different."
The resources they have to fight fires is another story.
Ayton said all the equipment at the fire stations is very old - in one case a fire truck had been cobbled together with parts from two different trucks - and water supplies are limited. He said they often draw water directly from the ocean and fire stations are usually only manned by a couple of firefighters.
Ayton said the days consisted of classroom work as well as hands-on training, with a focus on working within their means and staying safe.
"We teach them what's realistic," he said, adding all the firefighters had a fearless attitude and were ready to charge ahead into any situation.
"It's satisfying... you can see it in their eyes when they learn something new," Ayton said.
