“I always went to the window. » Like a ritual for Alexis Pellan when the father’s beep rang at night. As a child, he watched him change, put on his blue outfit and climb into the intervention truck. “At first, I found it dangerous,” says the young adult. Then I grew up. »And the fear passed. “He inspired me. It made me want to do the same thing. » The Costarmorican joined the Young Firefighters (JSP), in Plœuc (22), when he was 13 years old. This nocturnal memory, Alexis has in common with his cousin Florian, 22 years old, ambulance driver, firefighter and already a past as a pastry chef. Their fathers are twins. Two chief warrant officers as alike as two drops of water.
Alexis’ father, Olivier Pellan, is deputy to the center head of Moncontour (22), in Central Brittany, and leads a team of roads agents from the Department. “Firefighter for 33 years!” » Florian’s father, Cyril Pellan, is a taxi driver and heads the Plémy barracks, 7 km away. He received the keys to the center from the hands of his uncle, chief before him, who himself had received them from René, the grandfather. At the barracks, two of the uncle’s children are also SVP
Florian Pellan, 22, is a firefighter in Plémy and an ambulance driver in Loudéac. His father, chief warrant officer Cyril Pellan, is at the head of the center which has 21 volunteers, including two of Florian’s cousins. (Le Télégramme/Camille André)
Stormy night
“When the siren sounded, we all had a mission,” remembers Cyril. One was going to get Dad’s keys, the other the helmet. » At the time, “we just had an emergency vehicle, no ambulance,” remembers René Pellan, 73 years old. And much more primary paraphernalia than that of today. “We started a lot with open fires. There were twelve of us for the sector.” The municipal agent will be a volunteer firefighter until 1996, in Plémy, where he was head of the center for six years. “I remember the storm of ’87. Dad was gone all night,” says Cyril. There were candles around the table. We could hear noises outside, it was tiles flying away. We were waiting for his return. »
The twins and eldest of six children, Olivier and Cyril, around their father, René Pellan. (Le Télégramme/Camille André)
When the twins, in turn, wanted to become firefighters, “I was especially proud,” assures the retiree. A bit worried? “No, on the contrary,” he says. “We too were so proud of our father,” continues Cyril. It all started from him, he’s the one responsible! » In the early days, “we had to prove myself because there were a lot of elders and I was the “son of””, says Olivier. “I remember the first hangar fires. One night it froze so hard that the water dripping from our gloves became solid. That’s how it was, we were going on intermediary school together. » His dream, at the time when he worked under the orders of his father René, was to be able, one day, to become an adjutant, like him. Bet won.
“It’s weird, the big leagues”
And now in no time, that of a lifetime, the new generation is here. “I have arranged to meet my son in ten years,” announces Cyril. That’s how long it takes for him to become a chef. » A glance at Florian; he smiles. His father is even preparing to be named lieutenant. “It’s not a goal,” calms the son. But we will move forward. »Before performance or grade, there is above all a passion transmitted. A name, that of the Pellans, synonymous with commitment. “I have the impression that we have accomplished our duty, that we have contributed something and that we must now let them manage,” Olivier muses.
Alexis, his father Olivier, René, grandfather, Cyril and his son Alexis. That’s it, can you follow? The family poses in an intervention vehicle, at the Plémy barracks, April 12, 2024. (Le Télégramme/Camille André)
His brother agrees: “It’s not easy to see your children manage things. With all these interests together, we saw them become men.” Alexis remembers her first. Uneasiness in the street. “After the JSP, it really got me into the heart of the matter,” says the volunteer. It’s weird, the big leagues. » Florian relives the adrenaline of the most striking. “A cardiac arrest”, the first death. The two cousins, their fathers define them as calm, committed, mature. Less “fufous” than them at the same age. No doubt they grew up faster than others. And who knows who will one day watch them leave from the window.
* Volunteer firefighter
