Volunteer firefighter recounts service and wildfire relief mission

Mathis Congretel, an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter from Besançon, Doubs, shared his experiences regarding his three-year commitment to the service. He described the role as a “superb school of life” that teaches rigor, respect for hierarchy, solidarity, and group cohesion.

Recently, Congretel joined a group of approximately fifteen firefighters from the Doubs region to provide reinforcements in Gironde. They were part of the East column deployed to support efforts against the megafire in the Landes de Gascogne. During this mission, his team focused on surveillance and the protection of urban areas.

Congretel, who began his training at age 15, has progressed through various stages including the young firefighter certificate, training cells, and emergency medical assistance training, which covers managing medical distress and extracting victims from road accidents.