A group of American firefighters joined the Israeli Fire and Rescue Services as Islamic Jihad terrorists fired hundreds of rockets at Israel from Gaza, providing critical assistance to the Israeli teams.
The unseasonably dry and hot weather, along with rocket fire aimed at civilian targets, made for some particularly challenging circumstances for the firefighters who came on a volunteer mission with the Emergency Volunteer Project (EVP).
The EVP is an organization that trains and deploys international teams of professional responders to volunteer in Israel, supporting local Israeli units in emergency scenarios in times of crisis.
“The organization has over 2,000 active volunteers, of which, roughly 600 are firefighters,” said Eitan Charnoff, EVP’s emergency deployment director.
The firefighters assisted the Israeli teams on a variety of missions, including brush fires, building fires and rescue missions.
Despite their different backgrounds, the firefighters say the comradery allowed them to speak the same language and implement the professional standards that are necessary to save lives.
The Israeli firefighters gladly took in their American colleagues and said their help was much appreciated, particularly in a time of escalation in the violence from Gaza.
“We are very proud of them and feel they are part of the family. Especially these days, when we’re in a war situation, in such a sensitive time, it just warms the heart they’re coming to share the burden,” said acting station commander Eli Edri.
TPS was at a fire station to meet the volunteers and hear what it meant to them to be in Jerusalem:
