Welcoming Polish firefighters on return from their mission in Turkey – a ceremony attended by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration leadership
15.02.2023
A group of 76 Polish firefighters with 8 rescue dogs, 11 mine rescuers, 5 Humanitarian and Medical Aid Team members and 2 soldiers returned to their country today, 15 February, after eight days of mission in Turkey. The officers of the State Fire Service and the rescuers were welcomed at the Transport Aviation Base in Warsaw by Minister Mariusz Kamiński and Deputy Minister Bartosz Grodecki. The Commander-in-Chief of the State Fire Service, Brigadier General Andrzej Bartkowiak, and the Deputy Chief of the National Security Bureau, Brigadier General Mirosław Wiklik, also attended the meeting.
What you have done, I address our officers, our heroes, is extraordinary. You have saved 12 lives, including three small children. It is only thanks to you that these people are alive and will live. You have shown extraordinary bravery, courage, commitment, sacrifice and the highest-level professionalism
congratulated the firefighters, Minister Mariusz Kamiński.
Addressing the Commander-in-Chief of the State Fire Service, the Minister thanked the firefighters for their attitude.
Commander, I congratulate you on having such great officers, and I want to tell you, our dear heroes, our officers, that the whole of Poland takes pride in you, and the whole of Turkey is grateful to you
stressed the Head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.
The Minister also thanked the mine and medical rescuers who accompanied the SFS officers during the mission.
Great commitment of firefighters and rescuers
Today, Commander-in-Chief Brigadier General Andrzej Bartkowiak also greeted the search and rescue group and emotionally thanked the firefighters for their immense work and commitment.
Firefighters-rescuers often say that when you save a person, it is as if you saved the world. We have saved the world 12 times; hence, many thanks to you for your professionalism, considerable effort, and approach to assignments. Enormous thanks
said the Commander.
I am heartened. There are moments in every officer's life when words are sometimes in short supply, and today is that moment. I thank you with all my heart. You have done a great job. You are great heroes today. I congratulate you on that and wish you all the best
he added.
Brigadier Grzegorz Borowiec, Commander of the Polish Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Unit HUSAR, referred to the challenging search operation.
We are just doing our job the best we can, and everyone tried their best to make it work
he said.
As a result, we saved 12 lives, something we never even dreamed of before we returned. Our minimum plan was to save at least one person. We were able to achieve that 1,200 per cent
he said.
The Head of the HUSAR group also mentioned the fundamental role of the firefighters and rescuers' families who supported them in harsh moments.
To the rescue of Turkey - the mission of Polish firefighters
On Monday morning, 6 February, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale struck south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria. There were also aftershocks. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives due to the earthquake.
Minister Mariusz Kamiński offered to support the Polish Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Unit HUSAR in response to Turkey's appeal for international assistance. The group consisted of 76 firefighters from, among others, Łódź, Kraków, Warsaw and Gdańsk, and 8 rescue dogs. Subsequently, the firefighters were joined by a team of mining and medical rescuers and soldiers.
The group's operations were carried out in heavy winter conditions in shifts, 24 hours a day. The Poles also cooperated on-site with rescuers from, among others, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Bulgaria.
During the 8-day mission in Turkey, the firefighters managed to rescue 12 people trapped under the rubble, including three young children. Rescue dogs supported the officers in their action.
Polish firefighters in missions abroad
That was yet another rescue operation in which officers of the National Fire Service engaged.
In August 2022 in France, 146 firefighters and 49 vehicles operated in extinguishing peatland fires, cutting down burnt trees and building water supply systems. Each day, 120 rescuers and around 30 cars participated continuously in the operations.
In July last year, Polish firefighters and police officers assisted in fighting fires in the Czech Republic. During the five-day-action, Polish crews made 16 flights, dropping 1.467 million litres of water or 1,467 tonnes on the burning forests. Our firefighters and police officers spent 39 hours in the air.
Besides, Polish firefighters got involved in, among others, rescue missions in Lebanon (2020) and Greece (2021).
