Tampa rescue team: Firefighters recognized for Venezuela earthquake response

Three Tampa Fire Rescue firefighters were honored Friday after risking their lives in Venezuela to search through rubble and rescue survivors following two major June earthquakes. Tampa rescue efforts in VenezuelaWhen Tampa Fire Rescue firefighter Alex Canasi heard his friend and colleague, Lt. Cesar Nino, had family missing following the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela, he did not hesitate to help."Cesar's my friend," Canasi said. "He's not just my coworker, he is my brother. I've known him a long time. He’s an amazing human being, and any family of his is family of mine."Canasi called Grey Bull Rescue, a Tampa nonprofit, to get help arranging travel to and coordinating assistance in the disaster zone."Our motto is to save lives at the speed of need. But our ethos is, don't be a spectator," Grey Bull Rescue founder Bryan Stern said. "And that's exactly what these awesome firemen did."Thanks to Grey Bull Rescue, Canasi and Capt. Ben Kozich flew down to deliver supplies and help search