“These trucks are lives. Those of the firefighters who used them and those of the people they saved.” These trucks, the Association corrézienne Histoire et Patrimoine du Sapeur-Pompier has made, for several months, the heart of its activity.
In a hangar in Montaignac-Saint-Hippolyte, Gérard Vigouroux and his acolytes, all former firefighters from the local rescue center, have installed their workbench. “I have been a volunteer since 1967 and today, always volunteer to do things,” smiles the good man, president of the Amicale.
There, they tinker, repaint and re-equip, on Wednesday afternoons, machines with a glorious past with the ambition of restoring their brilliant colours. Starting with the 1960 “Gugumus”, mounted on a Renault truck, “the first ladder used in Tulle from 1963”, says Gérard Vigouroux. “We have done a lot in mechanics and exterior bodywork to attract the eye”, he gauges. “The ladder has been completely dismantled and redone, now we unfold it completely.”
Memories of past interventions
From the glove box, he pulls out photos of the fires at the college in 1967 and the first floor of the prefecture in 1975. “It gives me great pleasure to find her in this state, because I saw her working, as others.”
Others, like the 800-litre fire truck for forest fires, list the former head of the center by pointing to a behemoth in bright red. “The first that the Montaignac rescue center recovered, in 1972. 20 years ago, it was still involved. There were three like that in Corrèze, this one, another in spare parts; the third, I don’t know where he is.”
These are beautiful machines and a lot of memories.
At the wheel, he descended on the floods in Sainte-Faux-la-Grande in 1976 and, in column, on forest fires in Gardanne “like those of last summer”. Celebrated as heroes on their arrival in Marseille, shaken by the violence of the fire. “These are beautiful machines and a lot of memories,” he smiles with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.The members of the association tinker every Wednesday afternoon in the Montaignac reserve.
Receive our leisure newsletter by email and find ideas for outings and activities in your region.
NL 1951″,”premium”:”false”,”pubs”:”banniere_haute
Delahaye motor pump, command Jeep inherited from the Second World War, 1952 Citroën P54 (“There’s work there…”, he slips. “We’re just starting to dismantle it”), Laffly motor Dodge from the 1950s, with its turntable ladder mounted on a chassis, and also this “treasure salvaged from Tulle and completely redone”, a 1949 Laffly “from what I know”, which could transport “twelve fellows and all the equipment . It seems like a joke, this kind of gear, but it was not enough to press a button like today. You had to give your strength to maneuver them. But they did a lot of work with them.
It seems like a joke, this kind of gear, but it was not enough to press a button like today.
A reserve, not a museum
These vehicles, the Retromobil Club and the Firefighters’ Association of Tulle, the municipalities or the Association of Montaignac have entrusted them, by agreement, to the Association of Corrèze History and Heritage of the Firefighter. It is up to her to restore and preserve them. Other Amicales, communes or individuals could do the same. “We are not a museum, we do not have the means, but a reserve of vehicles”, specifies Gérard Vigouroux.
The 1949 Laffly could carry “twelve men and equipment”.
A reserve that schoolchildren, firefighters or simply curious people can come and visit, on request. Vehicles that can also be used by their owners for demonstrations or exhibitions. “The primary goal is to save all this old material. There are a lot of them with individuals or municipalities.”
Throwback to the 70th anniversary of the Young Firefighters section of Tulle
To accommodate more, and also enhance the helmets, outfits, spears and various materials that it has collected by the dozen, the Amicale has therefore decided to move. In an old sheepfold of 800 m², still in Montaignac, which she will rent as soon as possible in agreement with the municipality and the com’ com’. “We could move in quickly, if we manage to find the funds”, slips Gérard Vigouroux.
The place would become a garage and exhibition space. “These vehicles, we take care of them, but they belong to all of us. Everyone the firefighters have helped or will ever help.”
To contact the Corrézienne Association History and Heritage of the Firefighter: Gérard Vigouroux, 06.42.11.31.28.
Blandine Hutin-Mercier
2023-07-14 15:31:44
#Heritage #story #Corrèze #fire #trucks #told #wrench
