Belgium Fire Observers Visit Macon Bibb Fire Department(Photo Gallery)

A group of ten Belgium Firefighters visited the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department for one week during the Cherry Blossom Festival 2010.The group is part of the Belgium Fire Observers Organization members that visit major fire departments throughout the United States several times each year.The non-profit organization is headed up by Chief Paul Vanlook and offers any Firefighter in Belgium the opportunity to make one of the sponsored trips each year on a lottery type selection basis.Each member must pay their own way however, the advantage of group rates always helps defray the costs associated with the trips.
During their visit the group stayed at assigned fire stations and actually rode along on emergency calls to observe our operating procedures and firefighting techniques.They also visited the fire departments training facility and burn building,Fire Prevention Bureau,Administration Building,and the City's E-911 Communications Center.The highlight of their visit was having the opportunity to be the "official guest cooks" of "Pink Pancakes" during the annual pink pancake breakfast during the Cherry Blossom Festival. The group also got to experience the "Southern Hospitality" of our great community and take part in meeting and greeting the heads of our local government. Overall this was one of the most outstanding experiences of international comradeship and brotherhood within the fire service,that anyone could have imagined.