NWFR donation comes full circle

A donation from North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) to a town in Mexico came full circle recently after a donated ambulance was used to transport the father of one of the firefighters who helped organize the contribution.

In spring 2020, NWFR donated a surplus ambulance, two fire engines and equipment to Union de Tula, Mexico, a town in the state of Jalisco. The donations were made through Bomberos Unidos, which translates to ‘Firefighters United,’ a nonprofit in Washington state that donates equipment that U.S. regulations consider unusable to firefighters in Mexico.

Moi Castellon, Bomberos Unidos founder and a fire captain in Lynwood, knew his parents’ hometown of Union de Tula, Mexico needed the equipment at the time NWFR was looking to donate it. 

The city of Union de Tula previously honored NWFR and Bomberos Unidos for the donation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and has since provided services to many people, including a woman who delivered a child in the ambulance. 

However, the donations gained a new meaning for Castellon in mid-April, when his father, who was visiting the town, was transported by the ambulance after suffering from a respiratory emergency.

“It was cool to see that ambulance came to his rescue,” Castellon said. “It was one of those good feelings that good deeds do come back around.”

NWFR commissioner John Crawford knew Castellon from when Castellon started his firefighting career at Whatcom County Fire District 8 in north Bellingham and suggested NWFR donate the old equipment to Bomberos Unidos. Crawford said he was impressed by how well Union de Tula refurbished a truck that otherwise would have gone to the junkyard.

“We had that ambulance collecting dust,” Crawford said. “They’re excellent recyclers of everything and anything.”

Castellon said his father is doing much better and returned home to San Diego.

“If anyone in the community is aware of old fire equipment, don’t hesitate to reach out,” Castellon said. “We’ve seen firsthand that it goes a long way.”

For more information and to contact Bomberos Unidos, visit Facebook.com/BomberosUnited.