A corps of fire-fighting and emergency professionals, both civil and military, highly specialised and recognised worldwide for the quality of its interventions. These are the French fire brigades or so known Sapeur pompiers that we at Stem know very well.
From 25 to 28 September, the Congrès National des Sapeurs-Pompiers 2024 will take place in Mâcon, France. An important annual event that in four days brings together almost 500 exhibitors, 3000 congress participants, and welcomes several tens of thousands of visitors. The event, entirely dedicated to the French fire brigade, offers all professionals in the sector unique opportunities to share and exchange ideas and proposals. But it also allows the public to discover the passion of these professionals for their profession in a friendly and festive atmosphere.
For those who cannot attend this extraordinary travelling trade fair directly, it is worth knowing a little more about the fire brigade. How they are structured, what they do and how they differ from the Italian fire brigade.
This is why they are called ‘Sapeur Pompiers’
Let’s start with the differences. While in other country, the fire brigade are a civil public safety corps and made up of professionals and volunteers, in France, the so-called ‘Sapeurs-Pompiers’ are both civil servants of the departmental fire-fighting and all-round rescue services. But also a real elite military corps belonging to the Army and Navy.
And it is precisely from the military world, in particular the members of the Engineers responsible for mine work and fire protection in Napoleon’s army, that the etymology of this somewhat curious name ‘Sapeur Pompiers’ derives. The term ‘sapeur’ was in fact used to refer to someone who carried out undermining work, i.e. attacking foundations with the aim of collapsing a building, which was one of the tactics used in firefighting to prevent the spread of fire. It is said that it was Napoleon himself, furious with the civil guards who had failed to put out the Austrian embassy fire in 1810, who entrusted the firefighting to the engineers of his Imperial Guard.
The Paris Brigade among the world’s firefighting elite
Within the large family of French Sapeurs Pomppiers, a number of particular groups stand out.The most important is certainly the Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP). Familiarly known as the ‘Brigade’, it is an engineering unit of the French army operating under the authority of the Paris Prefect of Police. Consisting of around 10,000 units, it is the largest fire brigade command in Europe and the third largest in the world. Surpassed only by those in Tokyo and New York, its role is strategic for the entire French fire brigade. It dictates the high standards of intervention quality, recruitment and training.
Under the motto ‘Save or die’, the Brigade operates in the Paris area and the neighbouring departments of Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne. But it also protects the Kourou space base in French Guiana and the DGA missile test base in Biscarrosse.
The highly specialised ‘Marins Pompiers’
Then there are the so-called ‘Marins Pompiers’ who are a chosen corps of the French Navy that mainly deal with rescue at sea, firefighting, accidents of all kinds and the protection of people and military bases. They are professionals equipped with fire-fighting, rescue and search equipment, as well as specific fire-fighting boats.
Amongst the ‘Marins Pompiers’, the Bataillon Marseille Fire Brigade is particularly prestigious. Its task is to prevent and combat all types of danger and provide emergency medical services to victims. As a multi-specialised fire brigade, the Marseille Fire Brigade (BMPM – Bataillon Marin Pompiers Marseille) can be called upon to provide support throughout France and even abroad in the event of serious incidents.
Stem and ‘Sapeur-Pompiers’, a solid partnership
And just like the activities of the Italian fire brigade, the Stem team is particularly close to the ‘Sapeurs-Pompiers’ and their emergency relief activities on French soil. In fact, the Italian company’s collaboration with this prestigious corps of transalpine professionals dates back to 1988. Through the historic supplier of firefighting vehicles and ambulances Petit Picot. To this day, the link between Stem and the French fire brigade is still solid and active, with the supply of fire-fighting vessels, equipment and supports for transporting patients both on water and on land.
For example, Stem fireboats, including the famous Jet 730, are regularly used by the Paris Fire Brigade for patrol and rescue services on the Seine. So is the StemTen employed in the waters of Marseille and Bordeaux. In addition, some 5,000 ‘Sapeurs-Pompiers’ first-aid ambulances are equipped with Stem equipment and currently circulate beyond the Pyrenees. A relationship, the one between Stem and France, that has been further strengthened since the Parma-based company opened a branch near Marseille in 2017 for sales, training and service activities in France.
The Congrès National des Sapeurs-Pompiers 2024 scheduled from 25 to 28 September in Mâcon is a great opportunity to get to know first-hand the activities of the French firefighters. As well as their naval and land vehicles. But also all the equipment they use on a daily basis for firefighting, rescue, search in every emergency intervention. In which they are involved with their precious and irreplaceable work. We at Stem look forward to seeing you!
