Updated on 07/11/2024
The winter season brings, for the Hautes-Alpes firefighters, an increase in operational activity, particularly at night, for the emergency centers located at winter sports resorts. At the same time, the resource of volunteer firefighters, which represents 94% of the workforce, is impacted, given the exercise of seasonal professional activities.
Partnership and agreements
In most resorts such as Orcières, Vars, Queyras, Montgenèvre or Risoul, the workforce is increased thanks to a partnership with local authorities, ski lift companies or even tourist and leisure residences.
During seasonal recruitment sessions, employers open a certain number of positions for which the volunteer firefighter profile is desired. By agreement, the latter are then able to be released in order to participate with the rescue center in rescue operations like any other volunteer firefighter under agreement.
This device specific to the SDIS
Departmental fire and rescue service des Hautes-Alpes allows those involved in winter sports resorts to recruit staff while actively participating in the security of the resort.
Operational optimization through ambulance convergence
Personal rescue interventions mobilize staff and the ambulance for several hours during evacuations. The implementation of the convergence principle follows 2 main objectives:
- Limit the risk of not being able to respond to a request for assistance in the CIS
- Reduce the intervention time of staff and the constraints imposed on their employers
Thus, depending on the origin of the ambulance and the destination of the victim, the firefighters from the Gap or Briançon emergency center, who are on duty in the barracks, can make a connection in order to transport the victim to at the hospital center. Seasonal staff can thus return to their work more quickly and ensure the continuity of emergency services at the station.
Formation
The SDIS des Hautes-Alpes trains staff recruited as seasonal workers on the particular risks of resorts, in particular the operation of vehicles on snow-covered roads and emergency evacuation procedures from tourist residences.
Communication
Under the aegis of the departmental economic and tourism development agency, the SDIS has initiated a communication campaign on the internet with a dedicated site and on social networks at the national and regional levels for the recruitment of seasonal staff with the quality of volunteer firefighter.
Dedicated website: https://pompierenstation.hautes-alpes.net/
