"The safety is priceless, but it has a cost: the number of interventions explodes, we must be more numerous," says a professional firefighter also secretary general of the union South-SDIS in the context of the mobilization that began Monday in Paris. They are between 10 and 20 firefighters to camp on the Place de la République to denounce the lack of staff and recognition of the increase in requests for assistance.
Arrived in the early afternoon on the square, firefighters from different departments have mounted three barnums in the colors of the tricolor, and a red camping tent in which they intend to stay all week. They want to take the opportunity to "explain to the population what are our difficulties on a daily basis to provide a service worthy of the name", describes Jean-Pierre Darmuzey, general secretary of the union in Gironde.
Cagnotte in tribute to the deceased firefighters in Bouches-du-Rhône
Firefighters answer questions from passers-by, have their helmet tried ... and improvise a prize pool for the Pupil's Work. A tribute to the three rescuers who disappeared in a helicopter accident while intervening in bad weather in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
"People support us, but they do not decide anything, we hope that the government will finally hear us.We are on our knees in the barracks," says Virginie Piraux, 42, a firefighter in Condom in the Gers, and who had committed to sleep on Monday night.
" We chose this very peaceful way to be heard ""We are always combative, and even more so after the October demonstration where they [police forces] gassed us when we had done nothing," she adds, referring to the event of the professional firefighters of October 15 for a salary increase, marked by scuffles and tensions. "That's why we chose this very peaceful way to be heard".
Along with the navy blue uniforms, dozens of "yellow vests" come to support them, and for some, bring them tea and coffee.