Natisone, the firefighters (and the controversy over the rescue): «We are not super heroes»

UDINE – «Does anyone really believe we are super heroes?» the well-known outburst comes from the Civil Service Cgil dei Fire fighters, after the fuss of controversy over the rescue times. After the opening of an investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office, Minister Nello Musumeci also asked for a report from the Prefect of Udine Domenico Lione to understand the sequence of the rescue intervention after the alarm raised on the afternoon of Friday 31 May.

Natisone, the firefighters and the controversies

“No one imagines blaming the actions of the personnel who intervened that day” continues the note from the firefighters, which points out how “each intervention scenario is, for the Fire Brigade called to provide assistance, different and complex in its approach”. The three boys overwhelmed by the flood of the Natisone did not know that river, much less its sudden floods, but for the firefighters who intervened on site immediately it was clear that they were faced with a critical situation, since that point is reported as the most high risk. A dramatic scenario must have unfolded before their eyes, especially those of those who decided to put their lives at risk to try to swim to their rescue. “The flash flood shook all of us, the community and the entire chain of rescuers.”

Natisone, two workers came down to save the boys. «Cristian tried to reach them, but he came back». What happened

SHORT TIMES

But the rescue must also deal with the organizational and operational machinery of the Fire Brigade. «They work understaffed, with an overload of work that is sometimes unacceptable. The teams, sometimes reduced to 3 units compared to the 5 needed, are unable to cover the territory quickly and uniformly; staff do not undergo mandatory training and are unable to maintain operational standards due to the impossibility of carrying out maintenance and re-training. We have excessive workloads and the fallback to overtime is ordinary. Does anyone really believe we are superheroes?”.

But the crux of the problem remains that of the lack of staff and age. «4000 operational and 2500 administrative (RTP) less. The average age of the firefighters is too old, 47 years, and the Administration’s lack of attention to health and safety has become chronic. Suffice it to say that since October 22, 2022, the day of its inauguration, the current government has not planned and announced a public competition for Firefighters”, we read further.

THE RESULTS

«No one touches the firefighters. Too often the lack of staff, the lack of tools and equipment suitable for the intervention, the poor ability of the Administration to manage the territorial organization of the rescue and the prediction of events with their possible repercussions, leave workers exposed very high professionalism but who personally risk both during the rescue operations and in the proceedings of the competent authorities who analyze the facts after the fact. For this reason, to continue the work of improving personal protection, in particular when it comes to criminal proceedings for different responsibilities, we will ask in the next contractual renewal to increase the forms of protection and safeguard for those who work in the Corps”. «The FP CGIL VVF is close to the families of the victims and joins them with condolences. Any relevant responsibility, if any, if ascertained, is attributed also taking into account the responsibilities of the competent Administrations. The union’s complaints must also be taken into account to attribute serious responsibilities”, concludes Fp Cgil VVF.

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