An organized activity for the fire extinction, in the local communities of Romania is officially mentioned since the period of the Roman occupation. In the Middle Ages, the guilds were those who tried to protect their workshops and towns from devastating fire effects. But the first establishment of military units endowed with special equipment was officially mentioned in 1835 in Moldavia and in 1844 in Walahia.
The military firemen were involved in crucial events that marked the modern history of Romania. Thus, under the leadership of Captain Pavel Zaganescu, on September 13th 1848, the people stood out in the Dealul Spirii from Bucharest, in the Independence War (1877 – 1878) and in the artillery wage-class, when they brought their contribution to victory. These remain reference moments in national history, but the humanitarian mission for the protection of people’s life and wealth against fire destruction, catastrophes and other calamities, proceed daily, sometimes with the supreme sacrifice.
There are many monuments in the world that glorify firemen’s sacrifice, but it concerns events in the local communities. Romania remains probably the only country in which there is a firemen’s monument and who celebrates the National Fireman’s Day, September 13th.
This year, as a recognition to the firemen’s professionalism, Romania will host, in the first decade of September, the Deputies Conference of the International Technical Committee for prevention and Fire Extinction (C.T.I.F.) and the Board Committee of C.T.I.F., as well as the 24th edition of C.T.I.F. Intern Symposium.
Romfilatelia, the specialized company in issuing and trading postage stamps and philatelic items in Romania, pays its respects to these special people by releasing a philatelic issue of two postage stamps and one label. The stamps reproduce images from the firemen’s activities.
