Four minutes to do it perfectly

Sirens, simulated fire and split-second decisions: the Pesquería Power Plant fire-fighting brigade joined teams from neighboring companies in the industrial park contest designed to test real-world emergency readiness.

The emergency had been announced. Sirens blared as the 10 firefighters sprang into action, with less than a minute to pull on their protective gear. Once suited up, they raced through a zigzag course carrying a fire extinguisher toward the flames, smashing through a door with a sledgehammer, crossing a bridge and finally extinguishing the fire. Along the way, the challenges kept coming. One teammate assisted an injured person while another carried out a rescue. Some members worked to contain a simulated chemical spill, while others aimed hydrant hoses at a target disc.

This adrenaline-filled race against the clock took place during the 1^st Brigade Rally organized by the authorities of Nuevo León, Mexico, an event which ultimately saw the team from the Pesquería Power Plant (Central Eléctrica Pesquería - CEP) crowned the winners. "We came out champions!" says Alan Alanis, HSE Senior Supervisor, who is part of the team together with Jorge Ramírez, Mechanical Maintenance Technician, and other brigade members from the Local Mutual Help Committee (Comité Local de Ayuda Mutua - CLAM), representing the companies Ternium, Kia and Villacero.

"It helps us to be better prepared for real emergencies and makes our drills more effective, reinforcing the knowledge we gain through our emergency response system," points out Alan.

Held in November on state-owned land, the event encourages companies to keep their fire-fighting brigades well equipped and fully trained. Through a five-station competition that simulates different emergency scenarios, it reinforces the three core principles of Civil Protection: prevention, assistance and recovery/rehabilitation.

Involving more than 200 people, the competition was divided up into 10 CLAMs which bring together companies located in the same industrial areas to collaborate permanently in the event of emergencies. Each CLAM includes firefighters, paramedics, rescuers, and even Red Cross personnel. "It's everyone against everyone," notes Alan, who manages the various emergency brigades at the CEP.