First in the face of the emergency: The ALMA Brigade

May 29, 2024 | News | 0 comments

Tags: ALMA

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It was around 8 p.m. when the alerts went off at the Jama border crossing. On 25 April, the driver of a bus carrying Brazilian tourists had lost control, killing two people and injuring 40.

While the local media were recording the tragedy, a team wearing different uniforms from the local firefighters appeared to work alongside them: it was the ALMA Brigade.

Juan Carlos Rojas, our Mechanical Operator and one of the brigade captains, remembers that afternoon. “I was still at my desk when the call came. We dressed quickly and all the logistics and coordination fell into place. We were always anchored to the technical words used in a vehicle rescue,” he says.

Just three hours before the tragedy, the brigade on duty had simulated a vehicle accident near the Simons Observatory, with very good response times. “We always have to be prepared, with the most realistic training possible, because, God forbid, the emergency call is triggered or activated and we have to be at 100%. And that worked,” he adds.

Juan Carlos Rojas is one of the captains of the ALMA Brigade, a team of 28 volunteers who operate as a first line of help, not only for the OSF and AOS, but for the whole area.
“As we are isolated here, we are our own community. We have to help and support each other. That’s why I see the emergency brigade as a very important organisation within ALMA,” says Sebastián Castillo, in charge of Preventive and Corrective Maintenance for the Antena Control group, who is the Brigade’s other shift captain.

Since February, they have held meetings with the ambulance, fire and police forces of San Pedro and Toconao, who recognise the brigade’s great preparation and infrastructure. Even more so when rescuing at high altitude, as was the case with the passenger bus accident in Paso Jama.

In this relief group, continuous learning is essential. Every Friday, after their work in the observatory, the volunteers carry out training and practice, which can end after 11 p.m. There are four modules during the year: vehicle rescue, structural fire, rope rescue and mountain rescue.

The constant training they receive from the Safety Department and the Polyclinic is in addition to two trainings a year: one to review their knowledge with the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, and another with the National Fire Academy.

With 15 years on the team, Lorenzo Martínez-Conde, our Correlator Engineer, knows how much the brigade has changed. “It has been quite rewarding because I feel like a very useful part of the observatory. Having received this training in the brigade not only allows me to help, but also makes me feel obliged to do so”.
Guillermina Ponce, our Electronics Technician at AMG, who joined the brigade three years ago, agrees: “It has been great to be able to continue learning and getting to know the different rescue techniques, first aid and fire. I feel prepared for any accident or situation, although I still have a lot to learn.”

“There is nothing nicer than being able to contribute in some way to society, to your work group, to your people, which is not only in the workplace. And it’s also good to have a female perspective,” she adds.

And they are going from strength to strength. They are making progress in planning a training centre for the brigade above the antenna yard, where they could even invite other brigades or even the San Pedro fire brigade to train together.

“Everything that is done here is very important. The good thing is that the institution takes it that way, and it is an alignment that we all have: people first and then the rest”, concludes Sebastián.

Click below to see more images of the brigade
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