An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 31 population of almost ten mil- lion. It also serves the Guiana Space Centre of Kourou Guyane, the Military Rocket Test Centre in Bis- carosse, and the huge gas plant at Lacq-Artix. It is the largest fire brigade in Eu- rope and the third largest in the world, after Tokyo and New york. Paris firefight- ers number over 9,000 (including 450 females), 2,000 of whom have chosen to do their national service in the brigade. Ranks are those of the military, divided into three categories: line firefighters (recruit to chief-corporal); sub- officers (sergeant to sergeant-major) and officers (sub-lieutenant to general). Operational personnel are usually engaged for five years. They must have French nationality, be between 18 and 25 years old, and have at least a vocational training certificate. Selection is three days long, with sports tests, psychomotor tests, medical examinations, interviews, etc. Officers are recruited while at university. Basic training takes place at Fort Villeneuve-Saint-Georges where, along with firefighting and first-responder techniques, re- cruits undergo military instruction, including the use of firearms. Operationally, the brigade is divided into three groupements, or divisions, each commanded by a lieutenant colonel. They oper- ate out of 81 fire stations and have a fleet of some 463 vehicles, including 66 ambulances (the brigade is also responsible for the emergency medical service). Medical doctors, nurses, and fire- fighter-paramedics staff the mobile pre-hospital trauma teams. In a recent year, the incidents responded to by the three groupements of the Paris Fire Brigade numbered as follows: 1st Group - 163,081; 2nd Group - 136,078; 3rd Group - 150,376. Due to its expertise the BSPP is frequently consulted by other countries for advice in handling difficult rescue operations, immense forest fires and chemical disasters. They are widely regarded as path- finders in their profession, responsible for coming to the aid of countless people every year. Featuring prominently, therefore, on the 'family tree' of our modern Fire Service is a billowing curtain on a balmy Parisian summer's evening in 1810. about the author: Pat Poland was a member of 1 Fd MP Coy FCÁ at Collins Bks, Cork. He is retired from the Fire Service and hold an MA (Hons) from the School of History at UCC. His first book, For Whom the Bells Tolled: A History of Cork Fire Services 1622 – 1900, was published by History Press Ireland in 2010. Volume 2 is a work in progress. Firefighters attend a casualty at the Bataclan theatre. Paris firefighters on parade during Bastille Day, standing (right) is General Périco, CO Paris Fire Brigade on parade during Bastille Day. Note the FAMAS assault rifles

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