In February of 2018, retired chief of Chesterfield County Fire & EMS, Paul Mauger, traveled to Belize pro bono with Mac to provide leadership training to BNFS company officers. The duo also offered strategic planning guidance to senior fire-service officers.
Visiting fire stations across Belize, from Corozal Town (bordering Mexico) to the southernmost district town of Punta Gorda, Chief Mauger engaged with the Belize National Fire Service officers and firefighters in meaningful conversation about their present concerns.
Had their concerns been addressed? Mauger emphasized that they should look not only to the fire administration for answers but also suggested that the officers and firefighters themselves could explore changing their present situation to effect potential solutions.
Additionally, Chief Mauger spoke about the purpose of the leadership training, as well as about the prime benefit of strategic planning for the BNFS: to identify critical needs!
Mac addressed the potential opportunity for the BNFS to cross-train its members in EMS (emergency medical services) so as to provide this service to more then half of the country’s population that currently does not have access to pre-hospital emergency services.
The minister in charge of the Belize National Fire Service, the Hon. Edmond Castro, and his CEO, Ruth Meghan, also visited Chief Mauger and Mac on their journey.
You don’t need to be the chief to help.