Mayor Ismael Burgueño inaugurated the 4th International Firefighters Congress in Tijuana on Monday, an event designed to advance firefighter training and foster international cooperation.
“A warm welcome to all the women and men visiting us from other states in Mexico and from other countries to join this congress, which represents an opportunity to standardize strategies and acknowledge the important work you carry out every day,” the mayor said.
The mayor also stated that hosting this congress will allow for a better-trained, cutting-edge Fire Department, capable of responding efficiently and promptly to any emergency. He acknowledged the prestige that Tijuana Firefighters has earned for its high level of training and operational capabilities.
“I recognize that preparation is essential to face the challenges involved in containing and attending to emergencies, but your true strength lies in your commitment, altruism, bravery, service vocation, and above all, in putting your heart and soul into every action and every decision to protect lives,” Mayor Burgueño stated.
Tijuana Fire Department Director Rafael Carrillo Venegas thanked the mayor for bearing witness to what Tijuana firefighters have achieved across Mexico. In this regard, he stated, “Tijuana has been committed to sharing the knowledge we have acquired so that the firefighter brotherhood is equal or better.”
The week-long congress, which runs through Friday, September 26, aims to provide a platform for continuous learning and the exchange of expertise. Venegas also noted that over 500 firefighters are attending the event.
The agenda for Tijuana’s Firefighter Congress includes 17 workshops and a specialized course covering critical topics such as ladder-truck rope rescues, elevator rescue operations, emergency technology uses, and hazardous-materials fire investigations.
The opening ceremony drew a range of officials and fire service leaders. Attendees included Evelyn Peñafiel Guerra, Director of Technical Support, Control, and Institutional Oversight of the Municipal Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection; Xavier Peniche Bustamante, President of the Tijuana Pro-Firefighters Association; San Diego Fire Chief Robert Logan II; Guamúchil, Sinaloa, Fire Chief Horacio López Valenzuela; Tijuana Civil Protection Director José Luis Jiménez González; Cristian Rafael Burgos Ángeles, representing the congress instructors; and Tijuana Deputy Fire Chief Pedro Perfecto Lugo.
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