The Chairman, NSE Awka Branch of NSE and also the Anambra state Chief Fire Office has been appointed the Regional Coordinator of International Firefighters Day (IFFD) for African Continent.
The appointment was made known by FOUNDER of IFFD, JJ EDMONDSON.
In one of her statements, she thanked Agbili Martin and urged him to continued to promote and advocate International Firefighters’ Day amongst the fire services of the African continent. “We are honored to have someone of your passion and dedication on board.” She said.
Responding, Engr Agbili thank the founded ssying: “Thank you diligent and great founder, JJ Edmondson. I am humbled by this appointment as a Regional Cordinator of IFFD. Thank you for finding me worthy. I will continue to do my best to promote Firefighters in Africa and all over the world.”
Brief history of International Firefighters Day
On December 2 1998, a tragic event shook the Linton community, Australia and the world: Firefighters in Linton, approximately 150km west of the city of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, were fighting a large wildfire and called for assistance. This urgent call brought firefighters from a wide area including volunteers from the Geelong West Fire Brigade to the scene not knowing the despair and tragedy that was in store.
Garry Vredeveldt, Chris Evans, Stuart Davidson, Jason Thomas, and Matthew Armstrong were the crew on the Geelong West tanker that fateful day, they were part of a strike team and were being sent to help extinguish the flames.
As the five headed out from the fire to refill their tanker with water, there was a sudden violent wind change as the cold change hit the area, engulfing the truck in flames and killing all five members.
JJ Edmondson, a volunteer Lieutenant and firefighter in Victoria, Australia had had the safety and training drills ingrained into her over the years and had always been aware that her friendship with other firefighters could lead her to joy and the sense of being part of a greater family as well as to potential loss.
When Matt, Stuart, Jason, Garry and Chris of Geelong West lost their lives all of this struck home hard. It didn’t matter that these five were from a different brigade or in another region, they could have been from another state or country for all that mattered. What was important was that they were firefighters, who lost their lives doing something that they have all been trained and are proud to do – they died trying to save life and property.
This, and the letters of support and fellowship that flowed from the tragedy spurred JJ to set a New Year’s resolution for 1999: to organise an internationally recognised symbol of support and respect for ALL firefighters and a date for which this could be co-ordinated world wide.
For weeks JJ coordinated email discussions with the national and international community for their comments and suggestions as to an appropriate date and symbol to use, and the response was overwhelmingly positive with great support for the chosen date and ribbons.
IFFD could only have come about with the input from numerous people worldwide helping to ensure that this was truly an international decision. Without their comments, suggestions and endorsements it may have just remained a dream rather than the internationally recognised event it now is. To all who contributed, our sincere and complete thanks.
The Date – May 4
The date chosen for International Firefighters’ Day was linked to the feast day of St Florian (the patron saint of all firefighters). St Florian was the first known commander of one firefighting squad in the Roman Empire. He lost his life, as well as those of his colleagues, for protecting the same humane ideas which firefighters all over the world share even today.
Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is a time where the world’s community can recognise and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible. It is also a day in which current and past firefighters can be thanked for their contributions.
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