Local Firefighters Recall Volunteer Trip To Israel
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) — A group of firefighters from North Texas answered a call for help half way across the world recently. They returned over the weekend and they're talking about what it was like to work alongside firefighters in Israel in their time of need.
In total about a dozen firefighters from different Dallas/Fort Worth-area departments deployed to help the Israeli crews.
They are all part of a group known as the Emergency Volunteer Program. It's a non-profit that sends first-responders to help in different parts of the world.
Firefighter Greg Clark from Fort Worth Fire Department said, "I've always wanted to go to Israel but I never thought it would be under these circumstances."
Wild fires in Israel have been tearing through that country and Israeli fire fighters were overwhelmed according to members from the EVP.
That's why they called on them to come and provide back up.
Arlington Fire Lt. Chris Balough said they were received with arms wide open ."They opened the doors for us with hugs and kisses... cookies and pies. It was like being right back here in the states."
The EVP members all used their personal vacation time to go on the deployment and they put their personal lives on hold.
All of them said they would do it again without any problems, because according to them that's the kind of bond firefighters all across the world have.
Fort Worth firefighter Jimmy Hayward added, "It's an honor to serve along with our Israeli brothers and sisters."
The group is expected to return to Israel in February for training.
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