BEIRUT — As the Olympics kick off this Friday in Paris, a group of about fifteen captains from the Beirut Fire Brigade will travel to France to attend both Olympic events in Lille and Paralympic events in Paris. This initiative, organized by Samuel Ducroquet, the Ambassador for Sport at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, is aimed at honoring the firefighters' resilience and dedication.

Henry Simonin, humanitarian advisor at the French Embassy in Lebanon, explained that "a special ticketing system was arranged for each embassy, allowing them to offer tickets to chosen individuals. We decided to invite the Beirut firefighters to show that we have not forgotten their sacrifices during the Aug. 4, 2020, port explosions and the vital role they played."

A year on from the blast, here’s what we know

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From July 30 to Aug. 2, captains Michel Murr, Bilal Daher, Salim Ghadban, Raymond Farah, Nach’at Berry, Claude Helou, Ali Najm, Marwan Mitri, Chadi el-Oud, Mohammad Hadba, and Hady Makhlouf will attend basketball matches between Serbia and Puerto Rico, and between the United States and South Sudan. They will also visit Lille and meet with local firefighters.

From September 3 to 6, Captains Gaby Khoury, Georges Chamoun, Oussama Salam, Tanios Fares, and Michel Murr will attend the Paralympic Games in Paris. The initiative, sponsored by CMA-CGM, Air France, MEA, the city of Paris, the EDF Foundation, and the S Foundation (Sanofi), is a unique gesture in light of Lebanon's recent challenges.

Marie Perrin from the General Delegation for International Relations of the City of Paris, which organized the Parisian portion of the firefighters' visit, said, "This initiative continues our support for Beirut. Paris sent aid during the port explosions and we are closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon, which has been embroiled in clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army since last October."

Perrin added that the firefighters will attend a men's basketball semifinal at Paris Bercy on September 5 and have the opportunity to meet with their Paris counterparts.

Beirut firefighters chat with Armand Morand (c.), civil protection expert at the French Embassy in Lebanon, on July 25, 2024, at their barracks in Karantina, Beirut. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Today)

The visit will also include city tours and visits to significant cultural sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Seine."The goal is to offer a program that resonates with their experiences," Perrin explained.

The trip revives a strong historical bond between the Beirut Fire Brigade and France. "Our brigade, founded in 1923 by Captain Maurice Marceau, is the oldest in the Middle East. We often work behind the scenes and are proud to participate in the French Olympics. We will be in the front row to observe how to manage the security of an event of this scale," said Captain Michel Murr.

'Recognition of Lebanese Firefighters’ Commitment'

Captain Michel Murr, who has been with the Lebanese firefighters since July 17, 1996, leads several units — including those handling nuclear, radiological, chemical, and biological risks, as well as maritime rescue. His career has been marked by tragedies, including the deaths of five colleagues in the bombing of the Jamhour power plant in the 1990s, and two more in a fire at a Beirut warehouse about twenty years ago. In 2020, 10 colleagues died while responding to the Beirut port explosions.

Henry Simonin (1st left), Humanitarian Counselor at the French Embassy in Lebanon, chats with Beirut firefighting officers on July 25, 2024, at their barracks in Karantina, Beirut. Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Today)

"The French Embassy's decision to offer us this trip reflects their gratitude for our efforts to protect our city despite the ongoing crisis," Murr said.

The selection of participants was based on their involvement in recent challenging missions, including the port explosion and a fire in the duty-free zone in September 2020, as well as their response to the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey. "We have chosen those who have shown exceptional dedication despite the crisis," Murr added.

Murr highlighted the regular exchanges with French counterparts as particularly valuable, given the Beirut brigade's critical situation. "After 28 years of service, a captain's monthly salary is $560; for new recruits, it is $350. Our needs are immense, and our equipment and uniforms, some of which date back to 2008, have been severely affected," he said.

"We are grateful for the support from donors, especially France, NGOs, and the L Blanches association, founded by our representative Claude Hage, who has been instrumental in helping us."

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour