Around twenty years of research were necessary for Commander Sébastien Freidig, group leader at the Doubs departmental fire and rescue service, to write this quality book. After consulting more than 200,000 documents in various archive repositories, he is today publishing the history of the Besançon firefighters.
More than 500 illustrations
In addition to the quality texts and the beautiful layout, this reference book on the subject is composed of more than 500 illustrations. In his collection, the author estimates that he has more than 3,000 photos from before the 1980s. “This book could have been written more quickly, but it would not have been as richly illustrated,” rightly confides Sébastien Freidig, also member of the national commission for the history of French firefighters.
500 years ago, in 1524, firefighting in Besançon was entrusted to “fire wardens”. A decision which came in particular after the fire of 1452, which ravaged part of La Boucle de Besançon. The opportunity to follow the major fires which marked the history of the city: that of the Saint-Jacques hospital in 1840 or that of rue Ernest Renan in 1914 are examples.
Thanks to a chronological approach, it is also possible to better understand the evolution of firefighting techniques and the diversification of rescue activities. A study also on firefighters: their practices, their values, their struggles. A true tribute to those who have been watching over our security for five centuries!
With more than 1000 copies sold in one month, this book is already considered a success!
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