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Oct. 29--Wilson Fire/Rescue Services personnel spent time this week with two firefighters from Argentina sharing their knowledge.
David Adrian Narbaez, 35, and Sebastian Ariel Mesa, 30, have been in the United States for almost two weeks learning more techniques to help them in their responsibilities in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Narbaez serves in dual roles in Argentina. He is not only a police officer, but he also serves as the assistant fire chief. Mesa works for Preventiva S.M., a company that provides consulting services to businesses concerning fire safety. He also serves as a volunteer firefighter.
Narbaez said in his dual roles he conducts law enforcement or fire services as they are needed. He said they work 24-hour shifts and if the police are called he responds. If there is a fire, he changes hats and serves as a fireman.
Through their fellow firefighter Dail Hernandez, a Wilson/Fire Rescue firefighter, the pair got the rare opportunity to live with Wilson firefighters, learn and share stories.
This exchange opportunity stemmed from Hernandez's passion to travel to places in Central America sharing his knowledge. Hernandez takes these trips on his own accord and pays for them himself. He uses his own vacation time to travel. Back in 2009, Hernandez traveled to Buenos Aires and spent time with Narbaez and Mesa.
Since his visit to Buenos Aires, Hernandez has stayed in contact with Narbaez and Mesa through the Internet. So, when the opportunity arose, Narbaez and Mesa jumped on the chance to come to Wilson and visit Hernandez.
Hernandez, 30, is the first Hispanic firefighter employed by the city and is a native of Honduras. He has spent the last seven years traveling to various places donating equipment and providing training. Hernandez thanked the Bay Leaf, Bethesda, and Wilson fire departments along with the Contentnea Volunteer Fire Department for the hospitality demonstrated during Narbaez and Mesa's visit.
Hernandez's equipment donations are supplemented by other fire departments in North Carolina and throughout the country. Retired equipment or turnout gear that is in good shape is given to Hernandez. Those items are then donated.
Narbaez and Mesa funded their own trips to the United States. Their first stop was in Miami, where they spent a week training with the Miami Fire Department on extricating victims from crashes.
Using Hernandez as their interpreter, the pair said they were able to learn new techniques in Miami that will help them train other personnel when they return to their homeland. Hernandez said the equipment a lot of the fire departments use in Central America is not as up-to-date as what is available here. Narbaez and Mesa said by attending the training in Miami, they were able to learn new ways they weren't familiar with before to free victims by using simple hand tools they have available to them in Buenos Aires.
The visitors said one of their favorite experiences was the meal the firefighters at headquarters fixed for them Tuesday night. They told Hernandez they really enjoyed the barbecue chicken. In return Narbaez and Mesa shared some of their customs as well. Then the men exchanged patches, T-shirts and hats.
The men said they were eager to return home to implement the new ideas, experiences and techniques they learned while in the United States. Narbaez and Mesa said they wished they had more time to spend in Wilson because everyone made them feel so welcome. The men said they were amazed at the hospitality shown by the Wilson firefighters and the way they were treated. They said they felt like they were at home, Hernandez said.
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