On Friday, Gérard Collomb, Minister of State and Minister for the Interior, paid tribute to the firefighters – both men and women – who, through their daily commitment to rescuing and assisting the French people, uphold the values of the Republic. Secours Info was there.
Following a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, attended by representatives of all the departmental and military fire services, Gérard Collomb paid his respects to the firefighters who lost their lives this year whilst on duty.
On this occasion, the Minister welcomed delegations of firefighters to the Hôtel de Beauvau to express the nation’s gratitude to the 246,800 volunteers, professionals and military personnel who work selflessly round the clock in the service of the public. He was keen to emphasise the importance of their commitment to the nation and the Government’s full attention to their future, regardless of their status.
The ‘crucial’ role of volunteers
Following this exceptional year, during which they have been called upon on all fronts – from forest fires and cyclones in the Caribbean, snowfall, storms and, even today, thunderstorms and flooding across much of our country, Gérard Collomb highlights the vital role played by volunteer firefighters in the French civil protection system, which they embody and of which they are the cornerstone.
To ensure the long-term viability of this model, a task force launched in December 2017 has recently submitted its report to the Home Secretary.
This report contains 43 proposals aimed at significantly increasing the number of volunteer firefighters, in particular by diversifying the types of roles available.
An action plan will be presented shortly
Recruitment must be revitalised and streamlined, in particular by adopting a strategy focused on the priority neighbourhoods identified under urban policy. It must also establish a genuine policy to promote the representation of women, as this civic commitment – a fundamental element of the social contract – must better reflect the makeup of today’s French society.
To this end, the Ministry of the Interior is currently drawing up an action plan which will be presented at the next congress of the National Federation of French Firefighters, to be held in Bourg-en-Bresse in September.
To demonstrate the nation’s esteem and gratitude towards its firefighters, a message from the Minister of State, Minister of the Interior, will be read out by the prefects in each department on Saturday 16 June, during the ceremonies organised to mark this national day.
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A look back in pictures
© Secours Info – Guillaume Dollé