Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Puerto Vallarta's Bomberos had a busy day on Monday, as our fire fighters were honored in an early morning ceremony and a variety of National Firefighters' Day celebrations in addition to attending to their daily duties.

Firefighters' Day is celebrated on August 22 in Mexico because it was on that day in 1873 when the first fire department in the country was founded in the port city of Veracruz, which was granted the status of "Heroic" by presidential decree in 1951.

Fire fighting is considered one of the bravest professions in the world, mainly because of the risks involved in continuously dealing with emergencies.

Following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Miguel Angel Santana Becerra has spent nine years as part of the Puerto Vallarta Fire Department. He says that his brothers' experiences awakened an altruistic side in him and that he has never regretted having chosen this line of work.

"My brothers worked as fire fighters in the same corporation, one for 16 years and the other 13. I've been hanging around the fire station since I was a kid. When I came to bring food to my brothers they always had stories to tell me about their experiences, which got me excited because the stories were always full of adrenaline."

Today, Miguel Angel is on the bomberos' front line, and as such engages in fighting fires, various accidents and other emergencies - any and every thing that involves helping people, and even animals, when the bomberos are required to support other municipal agencies such as the ecology and environment department.

"The truth is that I like being part of this group that gives support to citizens in their time of need. The commitment all of my colleagues have for the safety of the people of Vallarta is unmatched... it certainly is an excellent team," he says.

One of the hardest parts of the job is that it requires long hours, and sometimes the bomberos have almost no contact with their families. "I have three children, and sometimes it can be difficult to take time for the family. But this is what we do, and we always find some time to devote to them. The corporation is our second family, sometimes we spend more time with colleagues than with our families, but the ambiance is very nice, we share our problems and try to help each other."

Fire fighters face very difficult, even traumatic, experiences and it is important that those around them understand. Miguel Angel recalls an experience that left its mark on him: "Once we were called upon to assist a serious automobile accident that involved a mother and her two children; unfortunately, all three died."

That certainly is hard to cope with. "When I got home, I had to vent, so I talked it out with my wife and my family, I tried to tell them how it happened... but especially I tried to explain how to prevent it from happening to us. Now when I drive I do so with the strictest security measures."

Miguel Angel has a great affinity for sports and physical activities, in fact he is a fitness instructor who trains some members of the fire department. Another of his pursuits is the preparation of food, so he works in the firehouse's kitchen... his specialty is cakes.

Although our first-responders don't seek recognition for their dedication and devotion to the Puerto Vallarta community, from time to time we have the opportunity to say, "Thank You." We invite you to help us honor them at the Third Annual Spaghetti Dinner Friend-Raiser on Sunday, November 20, 2016 from 3-6 pm. For a $150 peso donation (around $10 USD), you'll enjoy a great meal, a live exhibition, a tour, and lots of great surprises, while supporting our bomberos and lifeguards.

Space is limited, so don't wait! Reserve or purchase tickets online easily and securely at eventbrite.com TODAY!