That New Year’s Eve will remain etched in the memories of the eight police officers from the Specialised Field Brigade (BST) and the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC) in Juvisy, in the Essonne department in the Paris region. Le Parisien looks back at the rescue of 49 tenants from a residential block.
During the night of 31 December to 1 January, they were called out to provide assistance to the residents of a building on fire, before the fire brigade arrived, in the Grigny 3 neighbourhood.
Two fires at the same time
“We were initially called out at around 1.30 am to provide cover for the fire brigade at a car fire,” says Alexis, one of the heroes of the night. “Then we spotted the fire coming from the block of flats. We didn’t hesitate for a single second. We said: ‘Let’s go!’ We used our whistles to wake the residents, and we also knocked on doors. Then we helped people out, floor by floor, right up to the fifth floor. “There was a lot of smoke, and we only had our neck warmers to protect our faces,” continues the 34-year-old.
Evacuated one by oneThe police evacuated the 49 residents in the building one by one; none of them were injured, despite the lack of specialist fire-fighting equipment. “We had to make four or five trips back and forth, carrying about 20 kg of equipment on our backs, including our heavy helmets. With the adrenaline pumping, we weren’t even tired,” recalls Bruno, the head of the Juvisy Special Tactical Unit (BST), who was one of three police officers who suffered mild smoke inhalation.
"That's wonderful"
The Alliance 91 police union welcomes the fact that “none of our colleagues has been seriously injured”, whilst stating that it remains “vigilant regarding the recognition due for such acts of bravery, so as not to short-change any of those involved”.
These six police officers are set to receive medals shortly in recognition of their act of bravery.