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“It takes three minutes, to put off a fire when it begins. This is the base-line. After that, you cannot do it on your own, that’s where we step in. That’s what the science says” added Fevzi Bey; when telling us about the importance of early and fast intervention in seconds when an emergency situation arises. Taking a sip from his tea, we witnessed the true respect he spreads around, and how young firefighters looks at him with great admiration. “When seconds do matter in these situations, your vehicle park is of crucial importance; because faster you are, closer you are to save lives of your fellow countrypeople. And these new vehicles enable us to revert faster and intervene more effectively” he said and added; “Listen, it is still indeed a small city, and everyone knows each other. Years at the service of our people, when we got a call sign for an accident, or a fire; every time we get one these red trucks, we know that we are going to help someone we know, and we wish that we are not too late. Now we are serving to our Syrian sisters and brothers as well. It is our duty, and worth risking our own lives”. I remembered what one of the crew from the brigade told me outside in the courtyard while chatting: “Starting our shift every day, we first read the firefighter's prayer that goes, ‘My God, give me strength so that I can come to the help of an endangered creature, especially a small child or elderly person before it is too late.’”
The brave firefighting brigade of Hatay Municipality serves both Syrians under Temporary Protection and their host communities despite limited resources. They don’t complain, they don’t rest, they don’t make excuses. Their duty is to help people and communities. Their communities. Regardless of nationality, race, ethnic origin. They save lives every day. Just like in their prayer; “give me strength so that I can come to the help of an endangered creature…”