International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is observed each year on the 4th May. This is also St Florian's Day, who is the patron saint of firefighters.
St. Florian is the Patron Saint of Firefighters and was an officer of the Roman army who was responsible for organising and leading firefighting brigades tasked to fight fires when Rome needed to protect itself against fire being used as an offensive weapon in the third century.
On St. Florian’s Day, firefighters, families and communities across the world take a moment to acknowledge firefighters commitment and dedication to their communities and their selfless duty to protecting lives and property.
Each year, CFA and VFBV come together to honour our fallen firefighters through the annual memorial service which is each year commemorated on the Sunday closest to May 4th. By proudly wearing and displaying blue and red ribbons pinned together or by participating in a memorial or recognition event, we show our gratitude and respect to firefighters and their families everywhere. The blue and red ribbons are linked to colours symbolic of the main elements firefighters work with – red for fire and blue for water.
This years service was held on Sunday 1 May at Federation University’s Churchill Campus in Gippsland and marked 40 years since the loss of Churchill firefighter Darren McLean. The 2022 Annual Memorial Service is available to view on CFA’s website for those who were unable to attend the service in person. https://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/cfa-remembers-fallen-members-at-state-memorial-event
The Annual Memorial Service is a formal and reflective day to acknowledge and remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their communities. It’s a time for reflection and just one of the ways we can remember the lives of 69 CFA members and 11 Country Fire Brigades Board firefighters (prior to the formation of CFA), who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives in service to protecting our communities. The full Role of Honour can be found on CFA’s website. https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/history/roll-of-honour
This year we also recognise the loss of Louise Hincks a volunteer firefighter from South Australia’s Country Fire Service who lost her life in January while fighting a blaze near Lucindale. VFBV on behalf of all Victorian firefighters extends its deepest sympathies to Louise’s family, friends, brigade, peers and loved ones.
VFBV CEO, Adam Barnett spoke of the importance of the annual memorial service for not only the families, friends and loved once of the fallen, but for all CFA members.
“The annual memorial and St Florian’s Day is a time for us to come together and remember the 80 CFA firefighters who have selflessly given their lives to protect the lives of other Victorians.”
“While we pay tribute to those lost while protecting our communities, it is also a day to reflect on the importance of the work that CFA volunteers do on a daily basis to make Victorian communities safer.”
The 2023 Annual Memorial Service will be held on Sunday 7th May and will acknowledge and reflect on the 40th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday fires. Further details will be provided closer to the date.
