Just so y'all don't think we're a Third-World country or something, check out this snazzy fire engine owned by the city of Morelia. It's a little dated, but it's way better than any equipment I could afford when I was Treasurer of the Mayacamas Volunteer Fire Department in California's Sonoma Valley.

Photo: Clint Hough

Recently, Clint took a short trip to Michoacan to do some trading with artisans of the Lake Patzcuaro region. Driving through the state capitol, Morelia, he photographed this fire engine. Why?

Firefighters in Mexico are called bomberos—pumpers. One of the Bomberos Morelia apparently backed this pumper into a phone pole or something because some bodywork has been done. You can tell because the paint on two of the rear equipment hatches doesn't match the rest of the truck.

Nor has the lettering on the side been re-done yet, resulting in an unintended statement for those fluent in English.

Photo: Clint Hough

Given the (literally) explosive civil unrest in this country, if Morelia's city fathers understood this message, they'd fix it pronto.