Firefighter

A firefighter is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people, and in some areas provide emergency medical services. The fire service, also known in some countries as the fire brigade or fire department, is one of the emergency services. Firefighters are sometimes referred to as firemen, although women have increasingly joined firefighting units.

National information

France

French firefighters are called Sapeurs-Pompiers, and reflecting the rural nature of much of the country (wide areas with low density of population), the Volunteer Fire brigade (SPV, sapeur-pompier volontaire), with over 190,000 firefighters is the largest firefighting force in France. In addition to being called out from work to attend an incident, they may be on standby at firestations outside their working hours; the intervention and attending hours are paid by the session. The volunteer firebrigade is also a way to promote the culture of civil defense and of solidarity amongst the population. The Professional Fire Brigade (SPP, sapeur-pompier professionnel) numbers over 30,000 firefighters, employed by the départements and working on shifts. In some towns there is a mixture of professionals and volunteers, in others only one or the other.

Related Topics:
Sapeurs-Pompiers - Civil defense - Solidarity - Département

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In Paris and Marseille, the fire brigades are made up of military personnel, but under the control of the Ministry of the Interior in a similar way to the Gendarmes. The Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP) has around 7,000 firefighters, and the Marseille Marine Fire Battalion (BMPM) has over 2,000.

Related Topics:
Paris - Marseille - Military - Ministry of the Interior - Gendarmes - Paris Fire Brigade - Marseille Marine Fire Battalion

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French firefighters tackle over 3.6 million incidents each year:

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• 10% fires,
• 10% traffic accidents (freeing the casualties and prehospital care as first responders),
• 59% other help to people (mainly prehospital care as first responders),
• 21% other incidents (gas escapes, stuck elevators, etc).

With the SAMU (French EMS), they are the backbone of the French civil defense.

Related Topics:
SAMU - EMS - Civil defense

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Germany

German fire brigades (Feuerwehr) are organized on a town/village basis, with each town having at least one brigade. In Germany there are about 25,000 fire departments - 24,000 volunteer fire departments (Freiwillige Feuerwehr), 800 private fire departments (Werkfeuerwehr; which mostly protect large industrial complexes) and 100 public fire departments (Berufsfeuerwehr; in the larger towns and cities). These have a total of 1,300,000 active fire fighters. German fire departments are often very well-equipped - each fire engine can carry as much material as up to four American fire engines. For further information read the article in the German Wikipedia.

Related Topics:
Feuerwehr - Town - Village - Volunteer fire departments - Private fire departments - Public fire departments - Fire engine - Wikipedia

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the Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) not only has firefighters, but Ambulanceman/Ambulancewoman. As of 14/5/2005, there are 8,675 uniformed personnel (including ambulanceman/ambulancewoman) and 676 civilian members.

Related Topics:
Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) - Ambulanceman/Ambulancewoman

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The head of HKFSD is called but not Commissioner. Assisted by the Deputy Director, Director of the HKFSD is the head of three Operational Fire Commands: Hong Kong, Kowloon and N.T.(i.e. The three Districts). Each of the Commands is under the control of the Chief Fire Officer(CFO). In reality, there is one additional Command : The Heartquarters(HQ), which is under control of the CFO(HQ).

Related Topics:
Commissioner - N.T. - Chief Fire Officer(CFO)

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See for more information

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Spain

Spanish firefighters are famous for their collaboration with Third World countries. They are led by Jorge de Miguel San Martin, the chief of staff of the Spanish fire department.

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United Kingdom

The fire brigades in England are organised on a county basis, with each post-1974 county having its own brigade. In Scotland and Wales they are on a regional basis, with eight and three brigades respectively. Northern Ireland has a single brigade, the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade. In rural areas, there are often fire stations manned by part-time retained firefighters. In addition there are a number of independent fire brigades, such as the Peterborough volunteers, the Downe House School brigade and those run by large industrial concerns. As well as responding to fires and such like, British fire brigades also have a legal obligation (in the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004) to respond to any emergency, which can pose a threat to life, and the environment. Many of these legal changes have come about as a result of the increased terrorist threat and recent industrial action. More information can be found here. Information on fire safety issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister can be found here.

Related Topics:
England - County - 1974 - Scotland - Wales - Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Fire Brigade - Peterborough - Downe House School - Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 - Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

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