Update: American firefighters standing by awaiting possible deployment to Israel

Dr. Aaron Lerner
IMRA
3 December "10

Adi Zahavi told IMRA this morning (9:40) that the American firefighters already advised their workplaces that they may be deployed and airlines tickets have been already arranged in the event that the Israeli authorities decide that they want the American firefighters to come.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS STANDING BY AWAITING POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT TO ISRAEL

JERUSALEM – December 2, 2010
CONTACT: Adi Zahavi 011.972.54.627.7647

Dozens of American firefighters, both professional and volunteer, are on alert and are standing by awaiting possible deployment to Israel.

The Israel Emergency Volunteers Project (EVP) put the firefighters on alert the moment the magnitude of today's tragedy in northern Israel became apparent. Of the firefighters called, 100% responded positively and immediately put themselves at Israel's service.

Recruited and trained over the past twelve months by the EVP, a joint program of the Israel Emergency Aid Fund, the Israel Fire & Rescue Service and the Jewish National Fund, the firefighters stand ready to fly to Israel, at a moments notice, to assist the Israel Fire & Rescue Service with saving lives and property in the Holy Land.

"Over 150 American firefighters, Jews and non-Jews alike, have already been recruited and trained," says Adi Zahavi, International Director of the EVP, "hundreds more have volunteered from all over the United States and we are working hard to create training opportunities for them."

The EVP was created after the Second Lebanon War, when IDF reservists saw the forests in Israel's north burning, and realized that Israel’s 1,200 firefighters would not be enough should a missile war with Israel's enemies flare up.

"Israel has only 1,200 firefighters nationwide," explains Nathan Rothschild, Commissioner of the Monsey, NY Fire District and the NY Executive Coordinator for the EVP. "The purpose of the EVP is to assist these brave men in times of crisis, allow them rest, rotation and fresh hands. Obviously, we expected to be activated during a war, but today's tragedy has shown us that even when things seem quiet, we have to stay alert. We hope to never have bring our men, but if necessary, they will all be on planes and in Israel within 24 hours."

http://www.evp.org.il/

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