View source for Paris Fire Brigade

{{Short description|French Army unit and primary fire and rescue service for the city of Paris}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris
| image                         = BSPP section Bastille Day 2008.jpg
| caption                       = The Brigade during the 2008 [[Bastille Day]] parade
| dates                         = 1793–present
| country                       = {{flagcountry|France}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = [[French Army]]
| type                          = [[firefighter|Firemen]]
| role                          = 
| size                          = ~ 8,500
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = 
| garrison_label                = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = "{{lang|fr|Sauver ou périr}}" (''Save or Perish'')
| colors                        = Red & black
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander             = 
| current_commander_label       = 
| ceremonial_chief              = 
| ceremonial_chief_label        = 
| colonel_of_the_regiment       = 
| colonel_of_the_regiment_label = 
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = 
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| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = 
}}
{{coord missing|France}}

The '''Paris Fire Brigade''' ({{langx|fr|Brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris}}, '''BSPP''') is a [[French Army]] unit which serves as the primary fire and rescue service for [[Paris]], the city's inner suburbs and certain sites of national strategic importance.

The brigade's main area of responsibility is the City of Paris and the surrounding {{lang|fr|[[Département in France|départements]]}} of [[Seine-Saint-Denis]], [[Val-de-Marne]], and [[Hauts-de-Seine]] (the {{lang|fr|[[petite couronne]]}}). It also serves the [[Guiana Space Centre]] in [[Kourou]], the [[Direction générale de l'armement|DGA]] Military Rocket Test Centre in [[Biscarosse]], and the [[Lacq gas field]]. As with the other fire services of France, the brigade provides [[technical rescue]], [[search and rescue]] and [[fire prevention]] services and is one of the providers of [[emergency medical services]].

The brigade is one of two fire services in France that is part of the armed forces, with the other being the [[Marseille Naval Fire Battalion]] (BMPM). It is a unit of the [[French Army]]'s [[Engineering Arm]] ({{lang|fr|l'arme du génie}}) and the firefighters are therefore [[sapper]]s ({{lang|fr|sapeurs}}, thus {{lang|fr|sapeurs-pompiers}}). With 8,550 firefighters, it is the largest fire service in Europe and the third largest municipal urban fire service in the world, after the [[Tokyo Fire Department]] and [[New York City Fire Department]]. Its motto is ''"Save or Perish"'' (French "{{lang|fr|Sauver ou périr}}").

== History ==
[[File:Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris, État-major, Place Jules-Renard.jpg|thumb|The Fire Brigade's headquarters in Paris]]
Founded in 1793 as the {{lang|fr|Corps des gardes-pompes de la ville de Paris}} and following the 23-hour [[Paris under Napoleon#The Firemen|Austrian Embassy Fire]] in 1810 became a military organisation by imperial decree of Emperor [[Napoleon I of France|Napoléon]]. On 18 September 1811, it became the {{lang|fr|Bataillon de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris}} and was expanded to the {{lang|fr|Régiment de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris}} in 1867. During the Franco-Prussian War and World War I the sapeurs-pompiers were mobilised for military service, while continuing to fulfill their firefighting responsibilities. 

On 1 March 1967, it became the {{lang|fr|Brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris}}.

== Selection and training ==
The operational personnel ({{lang|fr|hommes du rang}} i.e. other ranks or rank and file) are usually engaged for five years. They must have French nationality, be between 18 and 25 years old, have a clean [[criminal record]] and have at least a [[Vocational education|vocational training]] [[National Classification of Levels of Training|''CAP'' certificate]]. The selection is three days long, with sports tests, psychomotor tests, medical examination, etc.

Training takes place in the Training Group ({{lang|fr|Groupement d'instruction}}, GI), at the fort of [[Villeneuve-Saint-Georges]]. The first period lasts two months, with the [[first aid]] and [[first responder]] training, and basic military instruction (including shooting). They then undertake practical training of four months in an operational fire company ({{lang|fr|compagnie d'incendie}}); this includes taking part in personal assistance and utility safety operations. The last stage of training is a further two months at the Training Group. Upon completing training, the firefighter joins a fire company.

== Resources ==
[[Image:BSPP flag Bastille Day 2008.jpg|thumb|Firemen of the Paris brigade, Bastille Day 2008 military parade on the Champs-Élysées, Paris.]]
The BSPP consists of 8,550 personnel with 81 stations and facilities who conduct 1,200 operations daily.
*463 pieces of equipment
**130 [[Fire apparatus#Fire engine|Pumpers]]
**63 Aerial Devices
**66 Ambulances
**71 Command and Patrol vehicles
**133 Special Engines
***[[Fireboats]]
***[[All terrain vehicle]]s
***[[Four wheel drive]]s

== Organisation ==
[[Image:General Bernard Périco BSPP p1040756.jpg|thumb|upright|General Bernard Périco, {{as of|2006|lc=on}} commanding officer of the Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP)]]
The brigade is commanded by a [[Brigade General]] as part of the French Army's engineering arm. The brigade commander directly controls the Information and Public Relations Bureau, and who is assisted a Colonel-Adjutant, a General Council called a Cabinet and a [[Chief of staff (military)|Chief of Staff]] who controls the following Bureaus:
*General Studies Bureau
*Financial Programs and Budget Bureau
and three Assistant Chiefs of Staff:
*Assistant Chief for Employment
**Operations Bureau
**Formation and Instruction Bureau
**Prevention Bureau
*Assistant Chief for Logistics
**Techniques Service
**Infrastructure Service
**Administrative Service
**Telecommunications and Information Service
*Assistant Chief for Human Resources
**Human resources Bureau
**Personnel Welfare Bureau
*Chief Doctor
**[[Emergency medical service]]/[[Emergency medical services in France|SAMU]]
**Chief of the Health Service

Operational staff are divided into three geographic groups, as well as a training group and a services group. The geographic groups are:
* First fire group – northeast Paris and [[Seine-Saint-Denis]]
* Second fire group – southeast Paris and [[Val-de-Marne]]
* Third fire group – west Paris and [[Hauts-de-Seine]]
Each of the geographic groups consists of 8 fire companies and a few special units that are not part of a company (including ambulance units). Each company in turn consists of 2-4 fire stations.

=== First fire group ({{lang|fr|Premier groupement d'incendie}}) ===
[[File:Véhicule Iveco Poste de Commandement PC12 des pompiers de Paris..JPG|thumb|Mobile HQ of Paris Fire Brigade in action.]]
The '''First fire group''' of the Paris Fire Brigade covers northeast Paris and [[Seine-Saint-Denis]] and is based in the [[18th arrondissement of Paris]]. It consists of the following companies:
* 7th at Blanche
* 9th at [[Montmartre]]
* 10th at Landon
* 12th at [[Ménilmontant]]
* 13th at [[Aulnay-sous-Bois]]
* 14th at [[Clichy-sous-Bois]]
* 24th at [[Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis|Montreuil]]
* 26th at [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]
Additional units include:
* Fire Group Staff
* [[Emergency medical services|EMS]]/[[Emergency medical services in France|SAMU]]
* Facilities (Maintenance) Group

=== Second fire group ({{lang|fr|Deuxième groupement d'incendie}}) ===
[[File:IVECO camion à Pompiers à Paris.jpg|thumb|Iveco [[fire apparatus]] in Paris.]]
The '''Second Fire Group''' of the Paris Fire Brigade covers Southeast Paris and [[Val-de-Marne]] and is based in the [[13th arrondissement of Paris]]. It consists of the following companies:
* 1st at [[Chaligny]]
* 2nd at [[Massena]]
* 8th at [[Rousseau]]
* 11th at [[Sévigné]]
* 15th at [[Champigny-sur-Marne|Champigny]]
* 17th at [[Créteil]]
* 22nd at [[Rungis]]
* 23rd at [[Saint-Maur-des-Fossés|Saint-Maur]]
Additional units include:
* Fire Group Staff
* [[Emergency medical services|EMS]]/[[Emergency medical services in France|SAMU]]
* Facilities (Maintenance) Group

=== Third fire group ({{lang|fr|Troisième groupement d'incendie}}) ===
[[File:Camion Renault Midliner CA20 des pompiers de Paris..jpg|thumb|Fire support truck near Champerret HQ.]]
The '''Third Fire Group''' of the Paris Fire Brigade covers Western Paris and [[Hauts-de-Seine]] and is based in [[Courbevoie]], [[Hauts-de-Seine]]. It consists of the following companies:
* 3rd at Port Royal
* 4th at Colombier
* 5th at [[Champerret]]
* 6th at [[Grenelle]]
* 16th at [[Boulogne-Billancourt|Boulogne]]
* 21st at [[Plessis Clamart]]
* 27th at [[Gennevilliers]]
* 28th at [[Nanterre]]
Additional units include:
* Fire Group Staff
* [[Emergency medical services|EMS]]/[[Emergency medical services in France|SAMU]]
* Atelier Group

=== Training Group ({{lang|fr|Groupement d'instruction}}) ===
[[File:Peugeot 308 SPVL921 des pompiers de Paris.JPG|thumb|[[Peugeot 308]] (Chief officer's car).]]
The '''Training Group''' of the Paris Fire Brigade provides education and training to all Paris [[firefighters]]. It consists of the following:
* Group Staff
* [[Emergency medical services|EMS]]/[[Emergency medical services in France|SAMU]]
* Center for Formation and Cadres
* Center for the Instruction of Recruits
** Basic Training Company
** Auto School, driving and repairs
* Support Company

== Special services ==
[[File:Renault Mascott des plongeurs des pompiers de Paris et son canot Sillinger sur remorque Porte à flot..JPG|thumb|[[Renault Mascott]] light truck of the [[Scuba set|Scuba]] unit of Paris firemen.]]
Controlled by Headquarters
*Divers/[[Scuba set|SCUBA]]
*[[Search and Rescue]]
*Canine Service
*[[Paris Fire Brigade Band]]
*Gymnastic Team
*Air Service
*Boat Service

== Frequency of operations ==
[[File:BSPP Domenjod 12012019.jpg|thumb|Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP) firemen displaying various uniforms. Place de l'Opéra, Paris - 12 January 2019.]]
[[File:Renault Zoé SPVL507.jpg|thumb|Light electric car Renault Zoe, Paris, June 2019.]]
The BSPP performs about 1200 interventions per day. During 2001:
* 1st fire group: 163,081 interventions, including 9,606 fires
* 2nd fire group: 136,078 interventions, including 5,583 fires
* 3rd fire group: 150,376 interventions, including 5,234 fires
There are 6.16 million inhabitants in the BSPP zone (1999). This represents:
* per day: 19 interventions per 100,000 inhabitants
* per year: 7,300 interventions, including 331 fires, per 100,000 inhabitants

==Personnel==
[[File:Grades des personnels de la BSPP.png|400px|left|thumb|Ranks and rank insignia of the Paris Fire Brigade.]]
{{-}}
== Ceremonial duties ==
Traditionally,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avionslegendaires.net/2012/07/actu/14-juillet-2012-le-bonheur-simple-du-defile-militaire/|title=[14 juillet 2012] Le bonheur simple du défilé militaire|date=5 July 2012}}</ref> the Paris Fire Brigade parades twice during the [[Bastille Day military parade]]: once on foot, and a second time with its vehicles.  During the parade members are armed due to their membership in the armed forces.

Evening dance parties are held at fire stations on (or near to) Bastille Day. These are known as a {{lang|fr|Bal des pompiers}}<ref>{{cite web |language=fr |url=http://www.pompiersparis.fr/actualites/info-brigade/liste-des-bals-du-13-et-14-juillet-2013 |title=Liste des Bals du 13 et 14 juillet 2013 |trans-title=List of Balls on July 13 and 14, 2013 |date=12 July 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831075550/http://www.pompiersparis.fr/actualites/info-brigade/liste-des-bals-du-13-et-14-juillet-2013 |archive-date=31 August 2014 }}</ref> (firefighters' ball).

== See also ==
* [[Police Nationale]]
* [[Prefecture of Police of Paris]]
* [[Fire service in France|Sapeurs-pompiers]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons|Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris|Paris Fire Brigade}}
* [http://www.pompiersparis.fr/ Official Website – French]
* [https://www.pompiersparis.fr/en/ Official Website – English]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150617122933/http://www.reconversion-pompiers-paris.com/ Official professional retraining web platform – French Only]

{{Fire services by country}}
{{Fire fighting}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Paris Fire Brigade| ]]
[[Category:Military fire departments]]