May 4 - International Firefighters’ Day

Every year on May 4, the world celebrates the International Firefighters' Day - a professional holiday of firefighters and emergency services.

International Firefighters' Day was created after the tragic events associated with extinguishing of a forest fire in December 1998, which occurred in Australia. Then, in performance of their official duties, five firefighters died. This event was not the first case of death of fighters in fire, but it was it that prompted caring people to establish the International Day, when it would be possible to honor the heroes - fire-fighters, as well as to honor the memory of those died in the line of duty.

This initiative was taken up in many countries of the world, which was facilitated by its distribution on the Internet. The day of honoring St. Florian, who is considered the heavenly patron of firefighters, was chosen as the date of celebration, and since firefighters celebrate their professional holiday in many countries on May 4.

It is worth noting that Fire Protection Day in Russia is celebrated on April 30 in accordance with its traditions, however, and it is located on calendar near the International Firefighters' Day.

The symbol of the holiday is a red-blue ribbon, where the red color symbolizes the flame, and the blue symbolizes water. A fireman, performing his work, becomes a fighter against the fire element, using for his own purposes the power of another element - water.

For reference. In the Republic of Tatarstan, thanks to the coordinated work of specialists from the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan, its subordinate institutions, the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergencies of the Republic of Tatarstan, executive authorities of municipal districts, as well as fire-fighting measures, it was possible to avoid emergency situations during the fire hazardous seasons from 2011 to 2019.

In order to detect and extinguish forest fires on the territory of the forest fund in Tatarstan, there are 18 type II fire stations at forestry enterprises and 5 type III forest fire stations at the State Budgetary Institution “Forest Fire Center”. The number of forest fire formations is 675 people, and 342 units of various equipment.