Volunteer firefighters: a worrying letter and a motion from the board of directors of Sdis du Gard

Le conseil d'administration du Sdis du Gard a voté une motion, ce mercredi 10 avril. Midi Libre – Archive MiKAEL ANISSET

The general director of civil security and crisis management has given notice to nineteen Sdis (departmental fire and rescue services) on the Mediterranean coast to adapt the conditions for exercising volunteer firefighters by reducing their activity.

A letter from the general director of civil security and crisis management worries the Gard firefighters.
The general management has put nineteen Sdis (departmental fire and rescue services) on notice, including a large part of the Mediterranean coast, « to adapt the working conditions of their volunteer firefighters by significantly reducing their activity. »
Meeting this Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Nîmes, the board of directors of Sdis du Gard, chaired by Alexandre Pissas, therefore unanimously voted on a motion for « recall the essential role played by volunteer firefighters, denounce the recommendations proposed by the general inspection of the administration which are not applicable as it stands by the Sdis du Gard. »
This motion specifies that during large-scale events linked to fires in the Gard and episodes of torrential rains of the Cévennes or Mediterranean type, the Sdis rely heavily on the resource of volunteer firefighters. If these measures were implemented, « they would directly impact the operational capacities of departments such as Gard, which is among the most exposed to global security risks.&nbsp ;»

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