BRIGADA DE BOMBEROS DE TABOGA
|
|
TO PROTECT & SAVE
|
|
Taboga.... Its FIRES and the Brigade
The need to establish a Fire Brigade in the Island of Taboga dates back over 500 years to the 16th century when it was explored by Vasco Núñez de Balboa, it’s first COLONIZADOR whom named the island San Pedro (St. Peter) which later became an strategic point to cast off in exploration of the South Sea and Peru.
The name of the island was later changed to Taboga, derived from the native indian word aboga which supposes it meant “lots of fish” but others believe it meant “mountain of water” because it had many water springs.
In 1524 Francisco Pizarro left Taboga to fight and conquer the Inca indians in Peru. It is said he departed from the San Pedro church in a formation down from the Plaza Mayor passing in front of our current Fire Station.
The Spaniards were the first victims of arson in the island, when the native indians burned down their rudimentary wooden homes in protest of the colonization of their island.
Once the Island of Taboga was established as an commerce way, in 1671 Henry Morgan the English pirate, alter ransacking Panama City, ordered his pirates to head over to Taboga to destroy and burnt down the buildings, seek the gold, silver and other valuable merchandise back to Panama City.
After the whole pirate destruction by fire, the Spaniards rebuilt again, this time using cement and like materials used to rebuilt Panama City again.
Our Fire Station has reminisce of this construction.
Another destructions caused by fire was made by another English pirate, John Illingworth and his Chilean pirate crew when they arrived to Taboga on September 17, 1819 looking for treasures, burning down the whole town and church. During the resistance from the Taboganos, three Illingworth Chilean pirates died and their graves were marked with three wooden crosses in the area know today as “Las Tres Cruces” (The Three Crosses) uphill from the main plaza.
At the end of the 1800’s during the British presence at el Morro, it is known that various fires destroyed the coal storage installations that The Pacific Steamship Company operated in the small cay next to Taboga to fuel steamships going and coming to Panama, California and Puerto Mont in Chile.
Thought the first half of the 20th century many fires to Taboganos home were registered as kerosene and charcoal was used widely to cook and light their homes mainly made of wooden structure. Forrest fires were also purposely set to the Cerro de la Cruz (Cross Hill) and the Vigia Hill.
In June 1923 another disaster struck as the greater part of the Aspinwall Hotel was ravaged by a fire, and aggravated further by the lack of water to put it out.
The sailors aboard the USS Galveston warship that was anchored at the island played a very important role in controlling the fire.
During WWII, a small squad of US military firefighters operated at the US Army compound only looking after the US Army, US Navy at Ancon Bay, the three canon batteries behind the island and the later installed air traffic control radar and VOR atop of Vigia Hill.
In 1944 the Tabogano poet Rogelio Sinan writes the poem INCENDIO (FIRE) after a fire near his home in Taboga.
At the end of the 1950’s a US military DC-3 crashed in the backside of Vigia Hill which turned into a devastating forest fire at top of the hill.
During the early hours of Friday April 2nd. 2004, 4 families lost their homes at Barrio Arango. This mishap prompted the Gobierno y Justicia Vice-Minister in charge Arturo Alvarado to create a firefighter presence in the island. This idea was backed by the local Taboga Lions Club along with the Civic Association of Taboga (ACT) along with the island residents.
Under General Order # 141-04, the then National Fire Chief, Colonel Leopoldo Mojica Castro, orders the creation of Brigada de Bomberos de Taboga. 17 cadets were sent to the National Fire Academy in Panama City under the supervision of Captain Germán Molina and assigned to instructors Captain Lucas Marcos and Sergeant Marcial Villar for their training and formation.
On September 17th. 2005, with the presence of the National Deputy Fire Chief, Lt. Colonel Cecilio Lasso, high ranking officers from HQ, HD Tomas Altamirano, Ricardo Boza, mayor of Taboga, members of the Lion Club and the Civic Association of Taboga, it took place the graduation of 17 cadets whom form today the Fire Brigade in Taboga.
On November 8th. 2006, under General Order # 098-06, the National Fire Chief, Colonel Mario Ramirez Puerta, assigns Second-Lieutenant Luis C. Endara III from the National HQ as Chief Liaison Officer in-charge of the Taboga Fire Brigade.
On March 23rd. 2007, the Brigada Infantil de Bomberos de Taboga (Youth Fire Brigade) is founded with 12 kids, today this brigade has well over 32 kids. Dedicated to educate, teach discipline and promote the values which make a Firemen.
On November 26th. At 10:54 AM, Fireman Alejandro Hernandez from the Taboga Fire Brigade, called an 10-70 TITANIC by radio, reporting an explosion and fire on board the trawler M/V Viveros just a few nautical miles from Taboga. Firemen Alejandro Hernandez, Isidro Botello, Gilberto Botello and Sergeant Cinthya Lopez assisted fellow firements from Station 8 & 11 whom arrived on trawlers form the Panama Canal Authority. (View the video news clip / TVN).
|
|
© 2008 Brigada de Bomberos de Taboga other rights reserved. Photos: EPASA, Taboga, panamanow.com, CBP (PR Dept) Dr. Alonso Roy alonsoroy.com |
