VICTORIA, Seychelles — As part of celebrations to mark Firefighters’ Day, which fell on a recent Sunday, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) organised a motorcade through Victoria, Anse Etoile, and Water Bowers under the theme ‘Protecting what we love’. The procession drew public attention along Palm Street and provided the agency an opportunity to engage with citizens. According to Cathrina Laurence, a senior firefighter, the agency had a simple message for the day about the importance of putting out fires, but the work within a fire department is far more than that.
Mrs Laurence said the annual motorcade is also a chance to remind the public that firefighters respond to all manner of emergencies, not just fires, and that the agency’s work extends to community engagement, public education on fire safety, and emergency response readiness. Fire engines and emergency vehicles were on display, and firefighters took the opportunity to interact with the public, distribute safety materials, and answer questions from children and adults alike.
According to the SFRSA, the day’s activities are part of a broader effort to strengthen the relationship between the agency and the communities it serves, particularly in light of the increasing frequency of weather-related incidents during the rainy season. Mrs Laurence noted that the agency continues to invest in training and equipment to ensure that the country is well prepared to respond to any emergency, and that the public plays a key role by following safety advice and reporting hazards promptly.
