Manny Ayala’s dedication to advancing fire safety and emergency medical education spans two countries. A native of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Manny began as a youth volunteer with the Mexican Red Cross and later became an EMT certified in Arizona. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1991, he served as Director of Health and Safety for the Douglas chapter of the American Red Cross before joining the Douglas Fire Department in 1995 as a Firefighter/EMT, eventually becoming a Fire Engineer. Certified as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Life Support instructor, Manny translated and taught life-saving skills in Spanish to Mexican Red Cross volunteers across Sonora. As an EMT Instructor since 1999, he has educated first responders in both Arizona and Mexico, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to saving lives and fostering international goodwill.