Florence Rabat was awarded the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honour on Saturday, according to our colleagues at the Progress. She received her medal from Colonel Éric Faure, the current president of the National Federation of French Fire Brigades (FNSPF).
A native of Saint-Étienne, Florence Rabat became, in 1984, the first female professional firefighter to be recruited by the Loire SDIS, and subsequently the first woman to take charge of a fire station in the department (in Firminy in 2003).
Now a lieutenant-colonel stationed in Saint-Étienne, she is responsible for developing the volunteer programme within the fire service. “This award is not a crowning achievement. It is a call to action. A mandate to continue serving the public interest with passion,” she explained, speaking to our colleagues at the Progress.