Colonel Sébastien Descamps, deputy director of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS) of Calvados, was the guest of France Blue Normandy this Tuesday morning. He detailed theoperational organization of firefighters mobilized on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. There will be 113 totally dedicated to the D-Day ceremonies. Other firefighters will carry out the usual emergency interventions.
France Bleu: How was the Calvados SDIS organized?
Colonel Sébastien Descamps: There are two devices. One specifically dedicated to the 80th. It is organized around four circles. The first is a circle of proximity, as close as possible to our veterans, the most vulnerable people. It is a circle which is supported by the associative environment, with initiatives which have been carried out. There are school nurses, school nursing assistants, etc. So there, these are really people who are there as the first response link. The second circle is based on approved civil security associations, the first aiders that we are used to seeing at major events. And there, indeed, they are there for the somewhat general population. The third circle in which we find mainly the firefighters and the SAMU is there to deal with other eventualities, more important events but also problems of accidents, fire, etc. So there, we really have this third circle there which is also close to the main sites. And then there is a fourth circle which is intended to respond to almost all scenarios, which is a little behind the devices of the 80th. It is mainly made up of firefighters.
Have you also received reinforcements from colleagues from other departments?
For this first device exclusively dedicated to the 80th, we actually have departments from the Western defense zone, therefore colleagues from Eure-et-Loir, colleagues from Côtes d’Armor. We also have colleagues from Seine-Maritime. And then after this second device that I mentioned, it is based rather on our current response, since generally speaking, 400 firefighters can be mobilized in Calvados. So, these reinforcements complete our usual organization.
You are going to do your job, obviously, but does being mobilized for the 80th represent something special for firefighters?
Our agents are mostly from Calvados. So it’s also a story that is theirs, that they were able to experience at several times because there are the families of firefighters. And we are all one big family. So all of this, indeed, makes it have a particular resonance and we are all very happy to be able to participate in this event.
