Sunday, 18 December 2011 11:00
Felipe Misleh of the 14th Company in the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Santiago. Photo by Kendal Montgomery.
When there is a fire or an accident in Santiago, or in all of Chile, every fireman—"bombero"—that comes to the rescue comes voluntarily; not one man in the entire country is paid for risking their lives and saving others.
Why do they do it? What inspires thousands of men to dedicate so much of their time toward helping others?
For many, including Felipe Misleh, 23, it comes from within, the desire to be useful in society and help others in need.
"The other night I went on three calls and got no sleep. You have to love and feel strongly about this job," Misleh explained.
Misleh has been a volunteer for the 14th Company in the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Santiago for three years now. He is currently classified as a "guardia nocturna," a night guard, which requires that you spend every night at the firehouse.
Volunteering to live there and sometimes be deprived of sleep is not free however. For students such as Misleh, a 6.000 CLP (around $12 USD) monthly fee is charged. He does however receive a free daily breakfast.
The facilities are nice and well-equipped for serving the public, and the men are trained via simulations and in-house practice. All companies are regulated and partly funded by the government, and though not all are exactly the same, some being nicer than others, all must meet the minimum requirements and standards.
It is not rare to see a firemen collecting money at stoplights or to receive a call soliciting donations. Also, if you´re at an OK Market or a Tottus supermarket and, for example, your bill is 1.786 CLP, unless you have exact change, the clerk will always ask if you´d like to round it off to 1.790 CLP and donate 4 pesos to the bomberos. Every cent helps.
And the community, naturally depending on these men for their well-being, is generally generous. Misleh´s company on Avenida Tobalaba receives around 3 million CLP (around $6.000 USD) monthly in donations. That money is also regulated: the head of the Cuerpo designates it to the areas most in need. The 14 Company in the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Santiago recently purchased new fire suits and helmets.
Though in two more years´ time, Misleh will complete his degree in Commercial Engineering, he has no intentions of leaving the company.
"I want to continue. However, eventually I´ll start a family and my career and only serve as a regular volunteer," Misleh said.
Note: Thank you to all bomberos who make our city safer. You should be proud.
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