Diplomas were awarded to nine individuals and three businesses for various reasons.
The city’s firefighters started the day with an act of homage held every year on 8 March, coinciding with the day of their patron saint (Sant Joan de Déu).
The ceremony began with a wreath being laid at the monument outside the Espai Bombers, paying homage to firefighters who lost their lives while providing service. Those attending included the Deputy Mayor for Safety and Prevention, Albert Batlle; the Manager for Safety and Prevention, Maite Casado; the head of the Barcelona Fire Service, Sebastià Massagué, and representation from the CAU del Jubilat (for retired firefighters).
Afterwards, the exhibition room at the centre hosted the awards ceremony to give this year’s distinctions and twelve diplomas to:
- Carlos Ávalos, Josep Maria Roig and Ramon Gil (firefighters), for their part in rescuing a person threatening to throw themselves from a traffic information platform over the Ronda de Dalt ring road. Thanks to their unfaltering action, they avoided the person falling.
- Santiago Montoliu and Joan Bes (firefighters), for rescuing a person who was drowning over a hundred metres from the Bac de Roda groyne. In difficult conditions and no visibility, they dived into the water and rescued the person while waiting for a team of divers.
- Bernat Pratginestós (firefighter), for rescuing a person trapped by metal bars, scaffolds, formwork and fresh concrete, due to the collapse of a construction project where concrete was being cast. The firefighter was the first to access the area where the injured person was, with the risk of unstable elements falling, and provided first aid and an assessment of the injured person to facilitate an action plan and the final rescue.
- Jaume Circuns and Carlos Alpuente, for their incalculable help in recovering historical vehicles from the Barcelona Fire Service.
- Lluís Ribas, in recognition of his help and advice for implementing new workshops at the Espai Bombers aimed at baccalaureate students.
- The companies Trass Tractament d’Espais, SL, Optima Facility Service, SL and Rosenbauer Española, SA, for collaborating and sponsoring the 2022 edition of the lithograph for the Barcelona Fire Service.
Finally, the latest edition of the lithograph from the Barcelona Fire Service collection was given by the artist Jaume Plensa to Elvira Dyangani, director of the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA).
This Thursday brings the awards ceremony to give the 2022 medals of merit and Genoveve distictions, held in the Saló de Cent chamber at the City Hall.