Meet the church firefighting force saving lives in Brazil

Stepping up

Instituto Solidare carried out four weeks of training with the group. This included introducing the team to new resources that would make them more efficient, as well as safety protocols.

‘All equipment, all material was funded by Tearfund,’ explains David. ‘So, from the training to the hook that serves to tie the rope, tying people to the boat, Tearfund financed it. So, we have the boat, we have the board, we have the vests, the helmets which is the equipment that help us to be safe in this difficult environment.

‘And all the equipment we have, we learned to use. For example, we cannot enter the water without a helmet. We cannot enter the water without boots. When we are going to use the boat it is because we already understand that the water is above the waist. We cannot carry the person in our arms because this brings risk to the person and brings risk to us as well.’

The team then created a WhatsApp group in which they are able to communicate with each other and be prepared for when the floods come again.

Disaster strikes

In May 2022, deadly floods and landslides hit Recife and 128 people lost their lives. The situation was tragic – but it could have been much worse. For this time, the church’s firefighting squad were able to quickly mobilise and get to work protecting people.

‘Already at dawn we were aware that we would have to go to the community,’ shares David. ‘So when it was five o'clock in the morning, we were already here.’

The flooding was worse than anticipated – Recife was underwater and even the church had flooded. But despite the challenges, thanks to the training, the firefighters knew how to overcome this and help.

‘At times we were afraid of losing people from our team as well because the water was very strong,’ explains David.

‘The current was moving the cars… It was really hard. Then a house collapsed nearby.

‘So we went to the water, but we didn't know how we were going to get back.’

Saving lives

‘We passed a house where there were two ladies on a table… and the water was rising,’ says David.

‘So I went in with the water on top of my belly, but when I left her house [the water] was already up to my neck.’

They rescued the women using their boat and some rope and got them to safety. The team also were able to reach many vulnerable people, including those who had mobility problems – helping to ensure that people weren’t left behind in the rescue.

‘What really struck me was that in these difficult times the community tries to help itself,’ shares David. ‘Whoever has a first floor free puts the people on top. So, it struck me because in a difficult moment that we were going through, people helped each other.

‘It was a difficult time, but thank God everything worked out.’

Questioning the injustice

When disasters like these happen, it is always people who have the least who suffer the most. People living in poverty cannot afford to move elsewhere – even when it’s their safety on the line.

‘I was very angry because it's not fair for you to see your community under water. It's not fair to see the population that has so little, suddenly have nothing left – just the walls of the house because the furniture was lost, the food was lost, the clothes were lost, their documentation.’

‘My relationship with God – I questioned myself a lot. We already have so little and we lose so much.

A rallying call

Through his questioning and after witnessing the courage and compassion of those around him, David shares how his faith was strengthened – as was his desire to continue to stand up for his community.

‘It gave a boost, but also a boost of not staying only in prayer, but in action,’ says David.

‘I know he [God] counts on me, on the church, on partners so that we can change this situation. [We need to] warn government officials that we need to wake up to this – it is not fair for it to happen every year.

‘My faith was strengthened, but strengthened by not standing still. To be a true agent of transformation, as it should be.

‘We are stewards of what God has placed in our hands. And [my faith] has awakened, awakened to this situation that was a little lost. I know that with the strength of the church, the community and partners, we will be able to change.’