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Friday, June 14, 2013

The Firefighters of Costa Rica

The Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica are responsible for all fire protection and emergency services throughout Costa Rica. They fight forest fires, house and business fires, and deal with landslides, floods and rescues. Sixty three fire stations were active across the country as of 2012 and they are staffed 24 hours a day by several hundred professional firefighters and over 1,000 volunteers.

On February 15, 1864, the municipality of San José agreed to start negotiations with the U.S.A. to bring a fire engine to Costa Rica, which arrived on June 20, 1865. The First Official Rules of the Fire Department were approved on July 27, 1865.

Here in Atenas, our fire department opened in 1960.

The next time you are waiting for a bus at the Coca Cola bus terminal in San José, take a few minutes to walk around the corner and admire the display of old fire engines. They are beautifully maintained.

1939

 

1928
1910

 

1910

 

2 comments:

Costa Rica Vacation Packages said...

Hi..I live in Costa Rica, where did you take the pictures? I'm used to seeing the "bomberos" when a new part of an José is on fire but I really never seen before that. You wrote at Coca Cola bus terminal in San José, don't you? I'll ask for it

Diana Miskell said...

Welcome! There are several terminals at the Coca Cola bus station. Go to the one where the buses to Orotina, Atenas, Naranjo, etc., park. As you are standing on the platform facing the parked buses, the fire trucks are just around the corner to your right.