OUR MISSION, OUR PHILOSOPHY
THE BASIC JOB OF THE FIREFIGHTER IS THE SAME EVERYWHERE. WE FIGHT FIRES IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL OCCUPANCIES FROM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO PACKED APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO HIGH RISE OFFICE BUILDINGS TO FACTORIES AND SHOPPING MALLS. WE PERFORM RESCUES EXTRACTING PEOPLE TRAPPED IN ELEVATORS OR VIOLENT CAR ACCIDENTS TO WORKMEN CAUGHT SUSPENDED ON HIGH ELECTRICAL TOWERS TO PEOPLE STRANDED IN FLOODS. WE ARE SUMMONED TO MITIGATE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS CAUSED BY DELIBERATE ACTS AND ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE CITIZENRY LOOKS TO US FOR HELP IN COPING WITH EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, MUDSLIDES AND EVEN TSUNAMIS AND HURRICANES.
FIREFIGHTERS EVERYWHERE ARE THE LAST HOPE OF THE CITIZEN TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY WHEN ALL ELSE HAS FAILED.
WHILE THE JOB IS THE SAME AROUND THE WORLD, THOSE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE CHARGED TO INTERVENE TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY ARE NOT ALWAYS AFFORDED THE SAME MEANS TO DO THE JOB SAFELY AND PROFESSIONALLY. EMERGENCIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE IN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. YET FIREFIGHTERS MUST WORK WITH LITTLE OR NO MATERIAL RESOURCES AND WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING.
THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF FRDP, WHICH HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR SUCCESS, IS TO BRING HELP THAT IS APPLICABLE IN THE AREAS WE WORK IN BY MAKING MAXIMUM USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES WITHIN A CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ALLOWING FOR EVOLUTION AND GROWTH.
WHAT MAY SEEM PERFECTLY NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE FIRE SERVICES OF BOSTON, MILANO OR TOKYO MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE WINNING FORMULA FOR FIREFIGHTERS IN BUJUMBURA, MANAGUA OR TASHKENT. THE INTERNATIONAL, MULTI-LINGUAL MAKE-UP OF FRDP FACILITATES OUR EFFORTS IN ASSURING THAT OUR PROGRAMS WILL BE FUNCTIONAL, ACCEPTED AND APPLICABLE.