Since 2017, a group of firefighters from Génolhac has been raising concerns with the management of the Gard SDIS regarding the difficulties they face in carrying out their daily duties.
The SDIS, recognising the issue, has addressed many of these concerns, such as upgrading the fleet of vehicles – a forest fire tanker is currently being delivered – and strengthening the centre’s staffing levels; an additional professional firefighter will join the team on 1 August.
On-call duty: an operational response at night
The collective, however, wishes to see the rescue centre’s operational staffing levels at night change from a team on on-call duty at home to a team on duty at the rescue centre. It is threatening the SDIS management with reducing its participation in on-call and duty rotas if this demand is not met.
The operational workload of the fire station, on the one hand, and the national civil protection policy aimed at developing volunteering within the fire service, on the other, make it essential to maintain on-call duty as the operational response at night in the Génolhac area.
Holding the population hostage
Other emergency response centres of this type in France also operate under a home-standby system. The Gard Fire Service management wishes to maintain dialogue with the group. Several meetings have also been organised with local elected representatives.
In particular, on 2 May, the chairman of the SDIS met with the mayors of the affected municipalities at the request of the vice-president of the Department.
Nevertheless, holding the public to ransom by undermining the service’s response to their emergency calls is dangerous. This could lead to serious operational disruptions and will not allow for a peaceful resolution of this situation.
