They have been in the publicity caravan for twenty years and this 2022 edition of the Tour de France cyclist is obviously no exception to the rule. The firefighters of France are present on the Grande Bouclewith seven colorful vehicles in the tradition of the caravan, to promote volunteering in the profession.
People greet us with ‘firefighters, firefighters, we love you!’
“I took a month’s vacation to participate in the caravan” Explain Jérôme Deschamps, 47, firefighter in Tours and representative of the profession in the caravan with 13 colleagues from all over France. “We are here to make the world of firefighters known, to recruit, to swell our ranks as much as possible.”
If he came above all to promote his profession, Jérôme Deschamps takes great pleasure. “I see it with child’s eyes. It’s impressive. People greet us with ‘firefighters, firefighters, we love you!’ It’s fire on the side of the roads, people smile, have bananas, they’re happy, they shout, they clap their hands, it’s a hundred percent party (…) unforgettable until the end of our days, I think.“
– Jerome Deschamps
The seven vehicles of the caravan also make it possible to collect donations for the Charity of Orphan Pupils Firefighters. And… to watch the grain! “With our fire vehicle, we are in priority on the fire of the caravan itself! But above all, we discuss with people, we do prevention on [le risque] fire. We also have another team that does prevention and first aid initiation, in the departure and arrival villages.”