City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday, June 17, 2019) ─ The City of Rochester delivered two
emergency vehicles--a fire truck and ambulance—to one of its sister cities,
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic on May 31.The donation was part of the Puerto
Plata Firefighters Assistance Project, an initiative overseen by Fire Chief
Will Jackson. The effort was spearheaded by International Sister Cites of Rochester,
N.Y. Inc. (ISCOR), in conjunction with the Puerto Plata Fire Department, Rochester
Fire Department and the United States Air Force.
“The City of Rochester is proud to participate in a program
geared towards international understanding and cooperation and the Sister Cities
initiative is a great way to celebrate the incredible diversity in our
community” said Mayor Warren. “We have one of the best Fire Departments in the
nation and we are excited to share and exchange knowledge and resources with
Puerto Plata.”
The vehicles were first transferred to Niagara Falls, N.Y.
and were prepared for an airlift to Charleston, S.C. For their final
destination, the vehicles were airlifted to the San Isidro airbase and
transported to Puerto Plata. Rochester Fire Inspector Roberto Cabrera visited
the airbase to ensure the safe transition of both vehicles.
The airlift to the Dominican Republic was provided by United
States Air Force Reserve training flights under the Denton Program for
humanitarian aid. The Denton Program, a transportation program of the U.S.
Departments of State and Defense, helps move humanitarian goods to developing
countries to relieve human suffering.
International Sister Cites of Rochester will continue to further
relations with Puerto Plata’s fire department through the Firefighters
Assistance Project. In the coming months, Rochester firefighters will visit
Puerto Plata to complete training missions with Dominican firefighters.
The Sister Cities Program was created in 1956 by President
Eisenhower to encourage American volunteer “citizen diplomats” to connect with
people around the world. In 1958, Rochester became one of the first cities to
commit to the program. Today, Rochester has 12 sister cities in countries including
Mali and China. The city of Puerto Plata officially became a sister city of Rochester
in 1997.
For more information visit https://www.cityofrochester.gov/sistercities/.
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News Media:
For more information contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo, 428-7135.