Incendios y bomberos

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Hola a todos,

A few days ago, after I got off the metro and started making my way towards the bus stop (I was coming from Vina del Mar, where our classes are, going back home to Valparaiso) and it started snowing! Well not really, but it kind of seemed like it; instead of snow falling from the sky, it was ashes. For the past week there have been numerous fires (incendios) around the city, including one gigantic forest fire that is way, way up on the hills. Apparently, Valparaiso has a big problem with fires in the summer because it is so dry here and because of the strong winds. My host mom was telling me how it is normal to have a few fires every summer, but this particular summer has been one of the dryest she can remember and there have been many more fires than normal. She really knows her stuff on this subject because both of her sons are firefighters (bomberos) and her late husband was a very well respected and well known fire chief. I was unaware that all firefighters throughout Chile are volunteers, absolutely all of them. Not only are they not paid, but they have to pay monthly dues just to be part of a company (fire station). As she explains it, (I'm not sure how all of them feel) they do not want to be paid because they do it for the love of their people and their country; it is a great honor to be a fireman. And I say fireMAN specifically because it has always been a male-only occupation. Only in recent years have women been allowed to join companies, but it is not obligatory for a company to accept a woman; for example, the company of my family does not want women firefighters. For one thing, it would cost a lot to renevate their station (women's sleeping quaters, female restrooms, etc.) and most companies struggle with funds as it is (every year they have a huge raffle to raise money for their stations). Secondly, it is almost like a private mens club, it is tradition and tradition is hard to change.

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Photos

Ashes falling
The smoke has been so heavy from the huge forest fire that when I open my window in my room, it smells like i'm standing in front of a bondfire.

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The smoke overhanging the ocean

Sunset
Sunset filled with smoke; the little white spots are the flash reflecting off the ashes still falling

Cleaning up
My mom sweeping the patio which was covered with cenizas (ashes).

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Smoke slowly being blown away.