The Saló de Cent chamber in Barcelona City Hall was the scene for the awards ceremony on Tuesday, 12 March, recognising the professional careers of firefighters and some outstanding actions from the last year. The ceremony was held as part of the programme to mark the day of the corps’ patron saint, Sant Joan de Déu, on 8 March.
As ever, the annual event included the awarding of the traditional genoveves, small scale replicas of one the most iconic vehicles in the history of the corps, to twenty firefighters who retired in 2023. The awards were given in recognition of their devotion and contribution to building a safer and more liveable Barcelona.
After that came the rest of the awards:
- Eleven silver medals for 35 years of service with the corps.
- Honorary plaques in gratitude for support and collaboration with the Barcelona Fire Service to: the Area for Technical Regulations with the Sub-Directorate General for Architecture and Building with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda; the Fire Service operated by Madrid City Council, and the Catalan Government’s Directorate General for Prevention, Fire Extinction and Rescue.
- Silver medal of honour for Joaquim Pol, for his support over several decades in representing the work of the corps through photography.
The ceremony concluded with the attendees visiting the vehicles belonging to the Barcelona Fire Service on display in Pl. Sant Jaume.
Together with the Mayor, Jaume Collboni, and Albert Batlle, the Deputy Mayor for Prevention, Safety and Coexistence, the ceremony was attended by the head of the Barcelona Fire Service, Sebastià Massagué; the head of the City Police, Pedro Velázquez; the Manager for Safety, Prevention and Coexistence, Maite Casado, and other city officials.
Also as part of the programme for the day of the corps’ patron saint on Friday, 8 March, distinctions were awarded and a wreath laid at the monument outside the Espai Bombers, in homage to the Barcelona firefighters lost in the line of duty.