39 Years of Friendship and Community Service
By Juan Antonio Ruiz
In the mid-1970s, a group of young professionals with a social conscience took the initiative to create a fire department in San Miguel. The growth of the city was becoming evident, and the influx of tourists was constant. This led to many risks and road accidents. While the authorities persisted in saying, «Those things do not happen here,» a group of civil-band radio amateurs began to draw attention to the accidents that were indeed happening and began coordinating information about road accidents, injuries, small fires, and other calamities. Shortly after, this group became the local delegation of the National Emergency Commission, an institution that provided ambulance and rescue services nationwide. This, in turn, gave rise to the local Mexican Red Cross in 1980.
The response of the municipal president of that time was still negative. Also, there was a feeling that the town should pay its firefighters if it wanted them. Faced with this, an organized group of people began to formalize a board of trustees that would enable creation of a volunteer fire department as an agency outside the government but that would serve the entire population.
It was not until September 11, 1983, that today’s H.H.H. Volunteer Fire Department of San Miguel de Allende came to be. The three Hs represented the words adopted in 1993 by the City Council—heroic, historic, and honorable—after the group of volunteers achieved several accomplishments.
In the words of the current president of the board of trustees, Eng. Jesùs Mercadillo, “Like any family, like any home, over 39 years, there have been complicated situations and good times. Difficult, but won, battles, and the spirit of service continue on. And that’s the only thing that matters. It has been kept that way by the vocation of hundreds of San Miguel residents who have been part of this institution. Thanks to each one, and to their families, thanks to the benefactors, and thanks to San Miguel de Allende, to whom we reiterate our motto: friendship and service to the community.”
As far as accidents, there is an effort for preventing, training, and raising awareness among people about how to avoid them—or at least to minimize them with timely and well-executed actions. The history of accidents in San Miguel is extensive, and it has shown us that the vision and beliefs of those inhabitants of other times were—and are—out of place. Like in all cities and places where there is growth and where people gather for various purposes, there will always be risks, and, indeed, “those things do happen.” In urban or rural areas, on the street or inside a house or business, whatever it may be, rich or poor, locals or tourists, no one is exempt from suffering accidents and losses; it is in ourselves to prevent and act appropriately.
The H.H.H.
Throughout its history, the Volunteer Fire Department has established itself as one of the best in the state of Guanajuato. This is thanks to the support of civil society, altruistic organizations such as Rotarians or the San Miguel Community Foundation, sister cities, and sister fire departments in the United States that have been very strongly involved in making this happen. In turn, and in reciprocity, it has been a promoter in creating and training other fire departments in nearby cities. Today, 39 years later, it is in a stage of renovation and restoration in its operations, without ever losing the spirit of service as the engine to continue working.
