Firefighting in America – A Project for Iraq

In late November, Meridian welcomed seven firefighters from Iraq, which included the Chief of the Baghdad International Airport Fire Department and firefighters from the Green Zone. From the very beginning, the group was eager ad excited to meet with fellow firefighters across the United States in urban, rural, and wildland settings. After starting in Washington DC, the group traveled to Phoenix, Detroit, Kalamazoo, and concluded their program in New York City. While in Arizona, the group celebrated Thanksgiving with the Scottsdale Fire Department and met with the Yarnell Fire District, who lost the Granite Mountain Hotshots in a tragic wildfire. A highlight of the group’s time in Detroit was their meeting with the Schoolcraft College Fire Academy, where they were able to practice with the trainers and learn new training techniques. In Kalamazoo the group met with the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport Fire Department and learned about new eco-friendly firefighting foam and the new equipment the Department is using. Their final stop, New York City, was one of the biggest highlights as the group was eager to meet with firemen and women that worked on 9/11. The group received a guided tour of the 9/11 Museum and Memorial by members of the New York Fire Safety Institute, who were all at Ground Zero in 2001.

The group at Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C.

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