Monaco Fire & Emergency Service: a helmet award ceremony for ten new recruits

©Direction de la Communication / Frédéric Nebinger

The members of the Monaco Fire & Emergency Service gathered on Place du Campanin in Fontvieille today for a ceremony at which the young recruits were presented with their helmets, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Maxime Yvrard, Chief of the Service, in the presence of Mr Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Mr Christophe Prat, Director General of the Ministry of the Interior, Colonel Tony Varo, Supreme Commander of the Military Force, Lieutenant-Colonel Martial Pied, Head of the Palace Guards, and Father Christian Venard, the Military Force’s Chaplain, who blessed the helmets.

For the first time in the history of the Monaco Fire & Emergency Service, a female member of staff has joined the unit. She was also the first female soldier to serve in the Principality.

The ten young recruits are from the class named after Firefighter Matis Canavese, one of the firefighters who died in an accident on 1 September 2021, aged 23. The ceremony took place in the presence of his family.

The recruits’ helmets were presented to them by their sponsors, solemnly marking the end of a five-month period of training. This powerful act symbolises their commitment as well as their sense of belonging to the Service. It also illustrates the fraternal bond that henceforth binds them to their brothers in arms, whom they now join in their mission to protect and safeguard people and property both in the Principality and in neighbouring communes.

Going forward, they will share the Service’s motto, “Courage – Devotion – Sacrifice”, with pride and dignity.