More than 400 Spanish-speaking firefighters from around the world have begun a week of intense training at the world-renowned Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station.

The following 18 countries are represented at the 2009 Spanish Fire School:

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, USA, Venezuela and, for the third consecutive year, the Republic of Guinea (West Africa).

On Wednesday, instructors, firefighters and Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) staff will pause for a ceremony at the Guest Instructors’ Memorial Wall, which honors the late guest instructors who have taught during the Spanish, Industrial and Municipal Fire Schools throughout the years.

Thursday night, the students and instructors celebrate the end of training with a formal banquet, while Friday will consist of mostly final testing before the students begin the journey back to their home countries.

Next week, Brayton Fire Training Field will host the 47th annual Industrial Fire School, which caters to the petrochemical industry. The 80th annual Municipal Fire School begins the following week.

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