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It’s known as the “fire brigade” but it’s far more than a war on flames!
The firefighters also deal with emergency medical services, traffic accidents, search and rescue operations, gas-leaks, floods, natural and industrial disasters… and are now being trained to extract terror-attack victims.
In 2016 alone, they were called out 4 and a half million times – that’s once every 7 seconds!
Nationwide, the task-force totals 246 900 operatives – of which 35 300 women…
divided up into three categories:
Professionals – civil-servants who work under the authority of the Interior Ministry
Volunteers – aged 18 and above, they serve as back-up on top of their day job or studies. They make up 78% of the entire contingent
Soldiers – The fire units in both Paris and Marseille are in fact a division of the French army
The fire department is of course an integral part of France’s folklore –
On Bastille day, fire stations nationwide open up to the public for the traditional “Firefighters’ ball” – an unmissable party and an annual raffle – the proceeds of which go towards their cooperative – that supports the orphans of colleagues killed in the line of duty.
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