In Mauléon, the Deux-Sèvres firefighters navigate between history and the challenges of the future

“Faced with the disasters we are experiencing in France, firefighters must prepare for climate change. » This is not the first time that Jean-Marie Fiévet has issued this warning. The deputy of the 3^e constituency, on availability of the fire brigade, he specifies, intervenes this time during the departmental fire brigade day of Deux-Sèvres, this Saturday May 4, 2024, in Mauléon.

The elected officials gathered here for this new departmental day looked at the future of a model of French civil security that the Beauvau of civil security, launched on April 23, must redefine.

“We cannot talk about a French model. To be a role model, you have to be recognized. It’s more of an originality. Only Slovenia and perhaps Poland combine, like us, professional and volunteer firefighters. And we are the only ones to intervene in personal rescue, road rescue and fire.”tempers Commander Franck Gaillard.

Head of the volunteer development group at Sdis 79, he is also president of Fanal rouge 79, the association specializing in the history of the department’s firefighters. This story partly explains this French originality, of which Deux-Sèvres is an example.

“The first squad of firefighters dates from 1798, in Niort. Previously, relief was organized by corporations. The building trades intervened in particular in the event of fire to undermine burning buildings. The fight against fires mainly involved prevention (curfew and lookout). The generalization of pumps, in the 18th^e century, led to the creation of pump guards who manufactured, maintained and used these pumps. This organization was generalized by the prefecture in 1805, for all towns with more than 2,000 inhabitants. »

An anchored history and a course to define

From the Three Glorious Years (1830), civil and military militias, the national guards, were deployed. These disappeared under Napoleon III (1848) but the Emperor retained a national guard of firefighters, both civil and military, wearing uniform and under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense. It is from this improbable team that the military tradition of our firefighters dates. Until 1950, firefighters only intervened on fires. It was not until 1953 that personal assistance was entrusted to them, and 1955 for firefighting to become a profession.

The first departmental fire service in France (1943) and the third departmental fire service (1973), the Sdis des Deux-Sèvres, its 1,300 volunteers and 234 professionals, is therefore an heir of this tradition and this exception that France sometimes has. difficult to defend at European level.

The Beauvau of civil security launched by the Ministry of the Interior should precisely make it possible to strengthen civil security which “the firefighters are the tip of the spear” according to Jean-Marie Fiévet, but also an organization in financial and human tension, particularly in the face of the explosion of assistance to people in recent years.

The intervention of firefighters in helping people in explosions, sometimes to supplement the health system, their financing and their adaptation to climate change are on the table.

“I am convinced that the department is the right scale to define our organization”defends Claire Paulic, president of Sdis 79. “This Beauvau is a participatory and collaborative approach”continues the prefect of Deux-Sèvres, Emmanuelle Dubée. “You are invited to share your vision of civil security and our unique model. We must collectively prepare to respond to climate change in particular. »

“Our civil security is the best in the world, but it is being caught up”warns Jean-Marie Fiévet, citing Portugal, which reviewed its organization following fatal fires a few years ago, or Sweden.