Firefighters bid farewell to their old fire station

Every year, Saint Barbe's Day is a solemn occasion for the firefighters of Saint-Barthélemy's Service territorial d'incendie et de secours. But the ceremony, which took place on Sunday December 8 in Saint-Jean, was anything but ordinary. Indeed, it was as much to celebrate their patron saint as to bid farewell to their dear old fire station that the firefighters gathered around their commander, Lieutenant Laurens. For this was the final event of the Stis, which has been based across the street in a brand-new fire station for over ten days.
In the presence of the President of the Collectivité territoriale, Xavier Lédée, and the Préfet délégué des Iles du Nord, Vincent Berton, Lieutenant Laurens emphasized the historic aspect of the ceremony. "Today, we're paying tribute to this fire station, which has seen so many firefighters pass through its doors, with so many stories and anecdotes," he said.
As is the case every year, Saint Barbara's Day is an opportunity for the Stis chief to present an overview of the department's activities. He cites 1,158 interventions carried out, including 28 fires, 894 ambulance sorties to rescue people, 118 traffic accidents, 108 miscellaneous interventions and 10 nautical operations. "Preparations for the 2024 cyclone campaign have been enhanced by inter-service training and exercises under the Sécurité Civile umbrella, a task taken on by my deputy, Lieutenant Thierry Brin", says Christophe Laurens.
After listing all the training courses attended by his staff in 2024, Lieutenant Laurens mentioned the receipt of new equipment (truck, boat) and praised the support and involvement of the Collectivité in the development of Stis. "The year 2025 promises to be a rich and busy one, both operationally and functionally, with the continuation of all our current missions and projects", he announced. before thanking all his staff and the families of firefighters who "live the commitment and availability and the absences of their spouses all year round".
The President of the Collectivité, Xavier Lédée, expressed his "pride in having a Territorial Fire and Rescue Service that meets" the expectations of the population. He recalled the cost of building the new fire station (12.1 million euros). "I'd like to thank everyone for their commitment and determination, starting of course with my predecessor, Bruno, but also all the teams in the communityI would also like to thank all the local authority's teams, and in particular the technical departments who have worked tirelessly to monitor this project day after day, in conjunction with the private operators whom I salute for their efficiency", he added. However, Xavier Lédée stressed "the secondary effects of such projects on the daily lives of the island's inhabitants", before adding: "We must remember this, so as not to be too greedy in the future. Our common ambition must be proportional to our capacities. "The elected representative also raised the question of housing, for which, he assures us, "all avenues will be explored", from the barracks to the rehabilitation of the old barracks, via land acquisitions.
Vincent Berton, Delegate Prefect for the Northern Islands, began by reading the message from the Minister of the Interior, before addressing a more personal message to the firefighters. I'd like to reiterate how much attention and affection I have for your action and your commitment," declared the representative of the State. I'm delighted that you can move into this new building, it's a recognition of your commitment. "
In the background throughout the ceremony, the Honorary President of the Collectivité, Bruno Magras, took care to conceal his emotion behind a few kind words. I realize that I saw the old barracks come into being, and now I'm watching it disappear," he said during the tour of the new premises. Time flies. "