CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

“Mortal Danger”: Interview with French Firefighter and Trade Unionist Sébastien Delavoux

Joe Allen: Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers? How long have you been a firefighter? What were the working conditions like with your colleagues over the last two months?

Sébastien Delavoux: I am Sébastien Delavoux, a trade unionist with the CGT (the second largest trade union in the country, and the second largest among firefighters) defending the interests of fire and rescue service personnel (including firefighters). I am 48 years old. I have been a firefighter for 32 years, and it has been my profession for 27 years.

For some time now I have been confined to representing my colleagues in the union, but I have field agents on the phone every day and I work in a rescue center, since July 13 it has been very intense: every day contacts with journalists, to answer their questions or find them an interlocutor to give testimony.

JA: The fires in Europe received extensive media coverage in the United States, but without in-depth analysis or historical context. Can you describe how terrible this situation was for civilians and firefighters? This was not a sudden event.

SD: Indeed, this is not a sudden or........

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