Sapeurs/pompiers need new blood.

At the moment the local Pompiers are asking for new recruits and this article for Taglines written 6 years ago by Malcolm Johnstone  shows why it is such a rewarding job.

''Sauver une vie, c'est genial''

Saving a life would please any of us, but to the sapeurs/pompiers it can be a regular but still rewarding experience.

No sooner had I arrived for my appointment with  Laguépie chef de service, Yves Farjounel, than his bleeper went off and he left for the caserne – the fire station. Fortunately, an adequate replacement in the shape of  pompier Emmanuel Cros, arrived to take over. [Emmanuel, son in law of Yves Farjounel has now taken over the position of Chef]. A typical cameo in the life of village sapeurs/pompiers (don’t ask what the difference is – it’s philosophical).

I had wanted to find out what the men – and women – who make up the fire service in our region thought about their mission and how they were organised. Under their chef, the 24 personnel based at Laguépie offer a service to us all on a basis so different to the paid professionals that we are used to, that it is almost unbelievable.

Over 90% of France’s pompiers are volunteers, paid professionals being reserved for the major population centres. And we are not talking about the system of retained firefighters as in the UK, but out and out unpaid volunteers. In villages it is not uncommon for sons to continue the work of their fathers, whether in the butcher’s shop, the farm or indeed the pompiers.

Anyone aged 17 – 55 can train to be a pompier. Around 200/300 hours of training at the beginning. then many refresher and up-date courses.

Dialling 18 (for the pompiers) or 15 (for a medical emergency) will connect you to a centre in Montauban or Albi and they will give you advice or pass the call to a local caserne. Laguépie covers nine communes, three in each of the departments adjoining the village, although the over-riding authority is in the home department.

Laguépie gets an average of around 300 interventions a year, over 80% being assistance to people in some kind of distress. In 2003, when there were floods on two separate occasions in the year, over 500 interventions were needed.

We are all used to the pompiers’ loto , the Bal on the 14th July and of course the calendar at Christmas, all ways of boosting the income of the caserne.  But major funding is provided from a departmental budget, which whilst never enough, provides for a very well equipped station, with several specialist vehicles designed to fight fires in buildings or forests, provide water-borne rescue, get cats out of pot holes or hornets out of trees….

No permanent staff is maintained at the station, but an up-to-date radio system enables the watch to be called out at any time. Be prepared for your plumber to down tools not for a tea break but to answer his bleep.

I wondered if the influx of foreign residents had made things more difficult as often they have a poor grasp of the language. It can cause problems when an emergency arises and the person is unable to respond clearly to the pompiers’ questions and it was suggested to me that one of the best ways to overcome this (apart from learning to speak French of course) would be for some of our younger compatriots to consider becoming pompiers. That way they would integrate wonderfully into village life and provide a service to all the residents.

At the end of February the pompiers celebrate the feast of St Barbe, their patron saint. Best uniforms and medals are worn, speeches and presentations made. And being true to their traditions it is likely that all will be celebrated with a repas. These men and women offer a valuable and professional service, but with a dash of humour and joie de vivre. I asked what advice would be of most use to our readers and was told “do not be afraid to dial 18 (or 15).” The operators will decide what help is needed and take the necessary steps. I know this to be true from several interventions I have seen over the recent years, so don’t be afraid.

When I wondered why the sapeurs/pompiers devoted so much time and energy to such a demanding past-time, M. Cros  explained that it was just a public service to their fellow villagers. And to any pompier, “sauver une vie, c’est genial”.


If you or your friends/family would like more details on how to become a pompier contact your local caserne in St Antonin, Laguepie or Caylus.