Fire-Fighters Day Marks On April 30 In Russia

On March 30 Russia marks Fire-fighters Day. According to the press service of the Emergencies Ministry, a tsar's decree on urban welfare, issued on that day 454 years ago, stipulated strict order of firefighting in Moscow. The document laid the basis for professional firefighting, introduced watch shifts and granted the firefighting teams a right to punish the residents of the capital for violating fire safety rules. "The service was established not only in Moscow but also in other cities of Russia," RIA was told in the Emergencies Ministry.

One of the first professional firefighting teams was created under Peter the Great (1672-1725), who also set up the first firefighting depot in the Admiralty. In the 19th century, factories producing firefighting tackle, in particular fire hoses and collapsible stairs, appeared in St. Petersburg and Moscow and the first firefighting vehicle was produced. "Russian scientists created the world's first portable froth fire extinguisher," said our interlocutor.

The staff of the Emergencies Ministry press service say the units of the State Firefighting Service carry out approximately 2 million missions, saving over 70,000 people every year.