The relationship with this profession in the family has been all over the age

From generation to generation

When he asked what he wanted to be grown, Svajūnas remembers without saying that he would be a firefighter, and most boys’ ambitions were not named – to become an astronaut, dreams, in his words, were earthly. « In our family, there were virtually no intellectuals, Dad was a professional driver and only later went to fire service, Mom – a clerk. Parents for us children wanted a better life, trying to finish higher education, dreamed that we would not work hard.

1993 S. Šiša graduated from Kaunas University of Technology, in his words, that era was very difficult, there was no great choice of work, and according to the acquired device production specialty – no at all. Is the resulting diploma in the Dulka drawer? « I look occasionally, so it’s not pollinated, » the interviewer smiled. « The device manufacturers did not need both those days, and now, it is easier to import everything than to produce complex devices, technology was not invested in technology. »

Asked what led to a firefighter’s chosen, S. Shisa did not say much: « Life. » And after a short pause, he added: « There were firefighters in the family since ancient times. I remember from childhood that the Honorary board was hanging portraits of grandmother’s brothers on the Kaunas Fire and Rescue Board. Before I was employed, Dad worked for 20 years in Kulautuva Fire Service.

Even if the profession went from generation to generation, how do you understand that you chose correctly? « The first serious case is enough and you see if you are able to do this job or not. If you go to the fire every time you go, there will be no benefit, the wrong persons are very quick to get up.

First baptism

The first entry in S. Šuša’s workbook – 1994. November 17th It was replaced by a state social insurance certificate and the names of the duties changed, but the nature of the work remained the same. The firefighter remembers the first day of service, accompanied by healthy anxiety – and how will it be? « It was not the case that on the very first day we received a summons, we had to wait relatively long for the first serious fire, » Kulautuvis recalled.

For the first time, Svajūnas and his colleagues assumed to extinguish the newly built house in Raudondvaris. The structure was to be given and handed the keys to the owners. However, the sauna ending ended with a fire of the house, after which the walls were distinguished. Fortunately, the first baptism was milder – without human flames in a building.

Individuality: S. Šuša emphasized that although there are sophomores on how to behave in the event of a fire, every situation is different, I do not dispose of it according to one instructions. / S. Photo by Šiša Personal Archive

The paradic sides are few

In the words of S. Šuša, there was so much everything in 30 years that you wouldn’t even count. Of course, the most stuck are the cases where they are lucky to save people in the verse site, more property than usual, to remove living people from cars in the accident.

« We will be on duty not only for the Kulautuva Firefighter team, but also during the events in the Kačerginė ring. In one of them, we managed to save the racer, who recovered after half of the resuscitation.

Svajūnas had to take many people out of the inflated room, save more than one life, but the case of the Kačerginė was the most in his memory. There are also tragic cases.

« I do not pull the dashes, do not take statistics, I know one thing: the people who rescued are far more than lost. It is impossible to save everyone in real life, » the firefighter emphasized.

How does he manage to deal with emotions when fires carry human life? « I guide the principle: when you finish your work, close the door and think about other things at home. Because if you constantly have a negative experience, you will hurt your nervous system. You need to learn how to distinguish between rest, which is unable to rest, and leaves much faster. The firefighter must come to work. Not sooty, non -drunk smell of smoke, little in our work.

I do not pull the dashes, do not take statistics, I know one thing: the people who rescued are far more than lost. In real life, it is impossible to save everyone, this is only the case in movies.

The conditions have changed fundamentally

Although when they were young classmates’ notebooks, there were cars, there were no fire cars between them. However, S. Šuša remembers the fire trucks well, and they are also different in the firefighter’s words as day and night.

« When I remember the start of the job in 1994, there is nothing to compare. The speed of the car’s speed, equipment, supply and conditions are different. It would be difficult for colleagues who have recently added to how we were able to work under these conditions at all. The changes began with the current leader Rytis Velis: team recreation facilities, new cars purchased, Firefighter.

S. Šuša himself voluntarily works: « When needed, no matter – day or night – I do not refuse to help. » He does not exclude the possibility that he will leave the first and only workplace for the well -deserved rest. It is true that Kulautuviškis does not think about his pension, promises to work until his health is allowed.

« Health in our work – most importantly. As long as they have, can help others. Half legs are not enough, physical strength, endurance, speed and good orientation are also needed because there is very little time to make a decision. You received a fire report and start thinking: whether you need to invite colleagues to help or one crew will suffice. You remind yourself that you first need to disconnect the electricity so that it does not disappear or the fireplace of the collaborators is filled with water to receive it, or save, what you brought, or let more. If an accident, you immediately think how many people in the car or cars, the road will require ambulance brigades, ”the firefighter explained.

S. Šiša emphasized that although there are sophomores on how to behave in the event of a fire or in the event of cars imprisoned in cars, every situation is different, I do not discover it according to one instruction.

Future forecasts

As the teams of Kaunas District Fire Safety Service accept student excursions, the firefighter notes that this work is only interesting for little ones. They still want to sit in a fire station, try their helmets, and the older generation is different, even if they visit, they are stuck in cell phones during the tour. One teacher, who was overwhelmed by this behavior, apologized and advised that the students were only because they had a free lesson.

However, anxiety about what will change the current St. Florian ward, S. Šiša does not have: a sufficient number of those who want to become firefighters gather in Vilnius. « This place does not remain empty, I hope that the fire safety services will not be abolished, that we will not be examples of some other countries when only the insurance is important and does not care about the property. You won’t get a million, ”the interviewer said.

« Unless you save millionaires from a burning house, » I tried to provoke. « It is likely that he would donate to a event, » the interlocutor painted the expected scenario without a curtain. « Then we can consider how much human life it costs, » I kept it below. « Life is invaluable, nothing more expensive. It is impossible to appreciate her money. Life needs to be saved, and monetary expression is forgotten, » said S. Šuša.

Rytis Velžys / Photo by Personal Archive

Comment

Rytis Velžys,

Director of Kaunas District Fire Safety Service

The employees of the Kaunas District Fire Safety Service (CRPST) of the public institution prove every day that their work is not only a profession but also a vocation. Firefighters’ courage, professionalism and sacrifice to save lives and property are invaluable to each community.

KRPST is proud of each of their employees – people whose sacrifice and sense of duty is an integral part of all of us.

We are also pleased with the strong partnership with the Kaunas District Municipality Administration. KRPST sincerely thanks for this consistent and significant cooperation, which ensures smooth activities and contributes to the overall strengthening of public security.

Special attention is also paid to voluntary firefighters – their involvement and motivation directly depends on the support and the conditions they create. Kaunas District Municipality shows a great example of how self -government can strengthen community and contribute to the work of a vital service.

Currently, KRPST has nine firefighters with 61 firefighters. Firefighters can be joined by volunteer firefighters as much as possible. There are 90 volunteer firefighters in the service.

Although the CRPST provides fire safety throughout the Kaunas district, the state funding includes only seven of the nine teams and eighteen employees are not funded. We are forced to work in case of insufficient number of human resources. The decline in the focus on the regional fire services is particularly difficult to maintain the ability to maintain quality response, ensure employees’ working conditions, etc., and the service has to rely on the support of the municipality.