On the occasion of the International Firefighters’ Day today, May 4, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) has thanked its officers for their loyalty, dedication and sacrifice.

A message from the chief fire officer Albert Rose to the officers reads:

“The role of a firefighter in today’s society is one of dedication of their lives to the protection of life and property. They commit and sacrifice in the form of countless hours over many selfless years. In all cases and incidents, they risk the ultimate sacrifice of their life.

“The SFRSA recognises its officers today on their day and wishes them the best in the journey as a firefighter in the Agency. We wish to thank them for their loyalty, dedication and sacrifice.”

Due to restrictions imposed by the department of health because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SFRSA is not organising any activities to commemorate the International Firefighters’ Day this year. However, at noon today, the fire sirens will sound for 30 seconds followed by a minute’s silence in memory of, and respect for, all firefighters who have been lost in the line of duty or passed on before us. This is known as the “Sound Off”.

May 4 has been recognised in many European countries for centuries as Firefighters’ Day because of Saint Florian. According to legend, Saint Florian was able to save an entire burning village in ancient Rome with just a single bucket of water. Saint Florian (Patron Saint of firefighters) is now known today as the defender of those who come in danger of fire.

The Day did not spread worldwide though until the death of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a wildfire in Victoria, Australia on January 4, 1999. Today the International Firefighters’ Day is observed on May 4 all over the world.

The International Firefighters’ Day is the day to celebrate and appreciate the hard work of the firefighters as well as to honour and recognise the bravery, courage, determination and sacrifices that fire fighters make to ensure that the communities and environment are as safe as possible. It is also a day to thank the current and past firefighters for their invaluable contributions and to remember those who have died while serving the community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of the people.

The red and blue ribbon is the most significant symbols of the International Firefighters’ Day. The colour red represents the element of fire and blue represents water. Coincidently, red and blue are also the colours recognised worldwide to signify emergency services.

The contract Agreement between the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (S.F.R.S.A) and Chinese Contractor Qing Jian International (Seychelles) Group Development Company Limited was signed on Thursday the 26^th March, 2020 at the Headquarters of the S.F.R.S.A, Latanier Road, Mahé. The work on site was expected to start within the coming weeks. However due to the stay in construction imposed by the Department of Health because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, construction has been put on hold.

Mr Marcel hands over the camp beds to Mr Madeleine (Photo source: RCSS)

The Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) on Saturday donated 10 camp beds to the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA).

These will be used by the SFRSA officers on standby during the COVID-19 crisis in the country.

RCSS volunteer Kenneth Marcel handed over the camp beds to SFRSA spokesperson Jones Madeleine at the RCSS headquarters.

The RCSS has its pre-positioning stock for such eventualities and has always assisted its local partners.

The RCSS and the SFRSA have a long-standing partnership. Some of the equipment, such as generators and ambulance are based at the SFRSA on Praslin and La Digue to facilitate response.

Ongoing trainings to build capacities of both parties and the signing of agreements are part of plans to formalise the existing partnership. 

Press release from the RCSS

Dife ti Sanmdi bomaten konpletman detri en pti lakaz an tol Belonie dan ki trwa dimoun ti pe reste.

En temwen ti dir ki ti dan bann 10er bomaten ki sa dife ti konmans pran dan sa lakaz e i ti’n konmans ede pour tenny li avek en rakor delo e osi ed sa bann dimoun retir enpe keksoz personnel parey lenz dan sa lakaz avan ki bann zofisye Lazans Servis Tenny Dife ti arive en pti pe letan apre.

Dapre zofisye relasyon piblik kot sa lazans, Msye Jones Madeleine, zot ti ganny alerte lo sa dife ver 10.25 bomaten e lazans ti deplway trwa kanmiyon pour konbat sa dife e letan zot ti ariv dan sa landrwa sa lakaz ti deza anflanm.

Msye Madeleine i dir erezman personn pa’n ganny dimal dan sa dife ki ziska prezan pa kler ki mannyer in konmanse.

I dir en lanket pe deroule pour konn lakoz sa dife.

Marie-Anne Lepathy

Lapolis in raporte ki dife in konpletman detri kabin en pick-up 3 tonn.

Dapre drayver sa pick-up, en zonm endyen aze 38-an, i ti sorti Pointe Larue e pe diriz fer lavil. An arivan kot highway i ti santi loder brile e vwar lafimen pe sorti dan kabin. Ler i di debarke i ti tann bann ‘spark’ e apre sa kabin ti pran dife.

Lazans servis tenny dife anvil e osi servis tenny dife erport ti entervenir pour tenny sa dife.

Sa lensidan ti ganny raporte 0850 yer kot stasyon lapolis Anse Aux Pins.

Drayver pa’n ganny okenn dimal an rezilta sa aksidan.

Dan en lot aksidan touzour yer, ki ti ganny raporte avek stasyon Mont Fleuri dan 0935, en pick-up 3 tonn ti pe monte ver La Louise e an arivan avan sa kontour kot Kan Frichot, dapre temwen, sa pick-up ti zis konmans desann annaryer kot in frot avek en jeep ki ti osi pe monte, me ki ti’n say li ler i ti war kot i ti pe desann annaryer san control. Sa pick-up ti osi bat dan bann baraz feray e apre kraz miray kot sant sosyal Plaisance avan i ti kapab arete. Drayver sa pick-up ti ganny transporte lopital pour resevwar tretman.

Dife ki ti’n aparaman esape letan en dimoun ti pe netway en morso teren lo montanny dan bwa Port Launay yer apremidi, ti erezman ganny met anba kontrol atan avan ki i ti’n kapab fer plis dega.

Sa i vin apre ki Lazans Servis Tenny Dife ek Sovtaz ti mobilize vitman e dapre zofisye relasyon piblik sa lazans, Msye Jones Madeleine, ti anviron midi 34 ki zot ti ganny alerte konmkwa ti annan sa dife e zot ti mobilize vitman. Zot ti deplway en lekip e masin sorti kot stasyon Anse Boileau ki ti pran 30 minit pour ariv dan sa landrwa. Apre ki sa tim ti demann ranfor en lot lekip ti deplwaye sorti kot stasyon anvil. I dir ti pran zot anviron 45 minit pour met sa dife anba kontrol.

Fodre dir ki delo pour tenny sa dife ti ponpe dan en sours pa tro lwen kot sa dife ti pe pran e sa ti fasilit travay pour met sa dife anba kontrol. I osi annan rapor ki serten dimoun ki ti dan zalantour ti’n osi donn lanmen pour tenny sa dife avan ki zofisye tenny dife ti ariv lo teren.

Sa dife ti lo montanny pa tro lwen avek Manglier Estate ki trouve anfas avek lotel Ephelia e dapre rapor en zonm ti pe netway sa teren pour fer lagrikiltir.

I pa kler ki grander teren ki’n ganny devaste me parmi bann vezetasyon ki’n brile i plizyer pye palm.

Ver 3er apremidi sa dife ti’n fini tennyen me bann zofisye tenny dife ek bann travayer park nasyonal ti reste lo teren ziska tar pour asire sa dife ti’n vreman tennyen.

Marie-Anne Lepathy