Update – photos by Janusz Wilk from the county celebrations of Firefighters’ Day
The county celebrations of Firefighters’ Day took place on 6 May in Trzebień. Bolesławiec municipality: – The ceremony was combined with the opening of the local Volunteer Fire Service station following its expansion and the handover of new rescue and firefighting vehicles.
The ceremony was preceded by a Mass offered for the uniformed services. Bolesławiec municipality:
A ceremonial roll call for Firefighters’ Day 2023 then began, combined with the presentation of decorations and promotions to higher service ranks. It was preceded by a report on the start of the ceremony, submitted by its commander – Senior Captain Sylwester Łasocha, to the Deputy Chief Commander of the State Fire Service – Brigadier General Adam Konieczny. The national anthem was played and the flag was raised on the mast.
The ceremony was opened by Senior Brigadier Andrzej Śliwowski, County Commander of the State Fire Service in Bolesławiec, and Volunteer Firefighter Jarosław Nenkin, President of the OSP Trzebień Board, who welcomed the invited guests and supporters of the local OSP.
In the next part of the roll call, decorations, badges and medals were awarded. Asp. Łukasz Jung, Senior Firefighter Paweł Leń, Firefighter Krzysztof Milko and Senior Firefighter Krzysztof Marcinów received the Bronze Badge of Merit for Fire Protection, presented by the Deputy Chief Commander of the State Fire Service – Brigadier General Adam Konieczny, assisted by the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Commander of the State Fire Service in Wrocław – Senior Brigadier Bogusław Bruda.
Another person honoured, this time with a cash award for exemplary performance of official duties, was Asp. Łukasz Jung. Meanwhile, Section Firefighter Kamila Krzyśko received the Chief Commander of the State Fire Service’s Diploma for exceptional commitment to rescue and firefighting operations.
The Gold Medal of Merit for Firefighting of the Association of Volunteer Fire Services was awarded to Robert Skrzypek and Sylwester Gabruś, while the silver medal went to Zbigniew Blecharz and Robert Piechocki. The Bronze Medal of Merit for Firefighting of the Association of Volunteer Fire Services was awarded to Sławomir Monot. The medals were presented by Volunteer Firefighter Tomasz Stanowski, President of the Voivodeship Board of the Association of Volunteer Fire Services in Wrocław, assisted by Volunteer Firefighter Stanisław Żółtański, President of the County Branch of the Association of Volunteer Fire Services of the Republic of Poland.
Additionally, the Association of Retired and Pensioned Firefighters of the Republic of Poland awarded Senior Brigadier Andrzejowi Śliwowskiemu a badge for services to the association. It was presented by the President of the Voivodeship Branch Board of that association, retired Senior Brigadier Grzegorza Kocona, assisted by retired Senior Brigadier Czesława Deresza.
The next item was the reading of nomination acts for higher service ranks. The rank of aspirant was granted to Kacprowi Lampartowi, Dominikowi Sługockiemu and Rafałowi Tomiakowi. Next, the rank of senior firefighter was awarded to Krzysztof Milko and Paweł Szydłowski; the rank of firefighter – to Janusz Blecharz, Marek Danielczuk and Wojciech Majewski; the rank of senior section firefighter – to Kamil Krzyśko, Michał Brzezowski, Marek Janiec, Krzysztof Kaczyński and Tomasz Mius; the rank of section firefighter – to Piotr Korytkowski and Patryk Woźny; and the rank of senior firefighter – to Dawid Chmielowiec. The promotions were presented by Senior Brigadier Bogusław Bruda and Senior Brigadier Andrzej Śliwowski.
In the next part of the ceremony, the newly recruited firefighter – Jakub Nenkin – took the oath.
The act incorporating the Stare Jaroszowice Volunteer Fire Service into the National Rescue and Firefighting System was then presented. Bolesławiec municipality: – Thus, the volunteers from Stare Jaroszowice declare their operational readiness, including the personnel and resources intended for use in the system, in the form of firefighting vehicles and rescue equipment belonging to the unit, as well as firefighters meeting the requirements for direct participation in rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the volunteer firefighters from Trzebień received two new rescue and firefighting vehicles on Man TGM 13.290 chassis. Their purchase was made possible by obtaining additional funds.
The municipal government:
The first GBA 3/23 vehicle was purchased mainly thanks to a dedicated grant from Bolesławiec municipality amounting to PLN 685,437, as well as a grant from the KG PSP financed from fire insurance contributions (PLN 312,500), a grant for fire protection units included in the KSRG (PLN 137,500), financial donations from the Bolesławiec and Świętoszów Forest Districts (PLN 4,500), and the unit’s own funds (PLN 4,000).
It adds:
The purchase of the second GBA 3/27 vehicle was part of a larger project that also included the expansion of the OSP Trzebień fire station. The total value of the project was PLN 3,758,880, of which PLN 2,400,000 was a grant from the Government “Polish Deal” Strategic Investment Programme, while PLN 1,358,880 constituted the project’s own contribution, secured by Bolesławiec municipality. In addition to the expansion and renovation, the project provided for the purchase of a medium-sized rescue and firefighting vehicle worth PLN 1,051,650.
The handover documents and keys to the new vehicles were presented to Volunteer Firefighter Jarosław Nenkin by Brigadier General Adam Konieczny, Senior Brigadier Bogusław Bruda, Member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland – Szymon Pogoda, Municipal Head – Andrzej Dutkowski and Deputy Chair of the Bolesławiec Municipal Council – Andrzej Chudzik. The keys were then handed to the drivers, who started the vehicles and activated the light and audible signals.
Additionally, Szymon Pogoda and Andrzej Dutkowski presented the handover document for use of the expanded fire station to the President of the OSP Trzebień Board – Volunteer Firefighter Jarosław Nenkin.
At the end, the Parish Priest of Trzebień – Rev. Jacek Makówka – and the chaplain of Lower Silesian firefighters – Rev. Artur Szela – blessed the fire station and the new rescue and firefighting vehicles.
The local government adds:
After the report on the conclusion of the ceremony was submitted, a ribbon symbolising the opening of OSP Trzebień was cut. The ribbon was cut by the Deputy Chief Commander of the State Fire Service – Brigadier General Adam Konieczny, Member of Parliament – Szymon Pogoda, Municipal Head of Bolesławiec – Andrzej Dutkowski, Chair of the Municipal Council – Bogusław Uziej – and the contractor’s representative, Barbara Rogalska of the general construction company “Rogalski” – Barbara Rogalska.