International Firefighters' Day

International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed annually on May 4. Its main purpose is to recognize and honor the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible. It is also a day that current and past firefighters can be thanked for their contributions.

History

International Firefighters' Day was instituted after a proposal was emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia. The proposal went out that the day be observed annually on May 4, Saint Florian's Day, the patron saint of firefighters.

Observance

On this day, people are invited to remember the past firefighters who have died while serving our community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of us all. At the same time, we can show our support and appreciation to the firefighters worldwide who continue to protect us so well throughout the year.

Significance

The role of a firefighter in today's society – be it urban, rural, natural environment, volunteer, career, industrial, defense force, aviation, motor sport, or other is one of dedication, commitment and sacrifice. No matter what country we reside in, we are all part of a global community of firefighters of all nations, protecting life and property from the ravages of fire and other disasters.

Symbol

The symbol of International Firefighters' Day is the red and blue ribbon. This was chosen because the red stands for fire and blue stands for water. These colors also are internationally recognized as representing emergency service.

See also

• Firefighter
• Saint Florian
• Fire prevention
• Emergency service