The ambushes to which the police are regularly subjected sometimes cause other collateral victims.
This was the case on Monday evening.
Called for a fire in a trash room around 8:30 p.m., in Plaisir (Yvelines), in the Allée Saint-Just, the firefighters suffered projectiles that were not intended for them.
The police use collective weapons to enable them to intervene in complete safety.
But after putting out the fire, as they prepare to leave, they receive mortar fire.
A little later around 9 p.m., it was in Les Mureaux, in rue Molière, that a garbage can was set on fire.
The firefighters intervened once again accompanied by the police.
It was then that projectiles fell on them, without determining their source.
They decide to leave the place to protect themselves, the fire presenting no risk of spreading.
Although they are not regular, these events sometimes cause other collateral victims.
This was the case on Monday evening.
Called for a fire in a trash room around 8:30 p.m., in Plaisir (Yvelines), in the Allée Saint-Just, the firefighters suffered projectiles that were not intended for them.
The police use collective weapons to enable them to intervene in complete safety.
But after putting out the fire, as they prepare to leave, they receive mortar fire.
"We do not risk the life of an officer for a burning vehicle or garbage can"
In these situations, clear instructions are given to them.
They can be summed up as follows: if there is no danger to the lives of others, and the intervention may endanger the workforce, they have the right not to intervene.
"We do not risk the life of an agent for a vehicle or a garbage can that burns, underlines the SDIS (
departmental fire and rescue service)
78. If the environment is hostile, we will not risk having injuried people.
However, if someone's life is in danger, we will intervene.
Protective clothing is also made for this.
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The rules of intervention are particularly framed when they take place in the middle of an episode of urban violence.
Firefighters vehicles must, for example, reverse into dead ends, to evacuate quickly if necessary.
Agents will also carry out on-site checks before launching operations.
They can call in reinforcements if needed.
Beyond a certain distance, firefighters must stay on board vehicles whose windows are reinforced to resist projectile jets.
"The decision remains at the discretion of the driver of the emergency vehicle," concludes the spokesperson.
We know in which context we no longer have the obligation to intervene.
The law allows us a right of withdrawal.
And if there is material damage, the responsibility lies with whoever started the fire.
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