Unforgettable Encounters and Treasured Memories

We recently had the honour of working with valuable source material provided by Lieutenant Jean-Yves Pontiac, a retired firefighter from La Réunion and former chief of the La Montagne fire station. With his extensive experience and a wealth of newspaper clippings, photographs, and personal memories gathered over the years, his contributions proved to be a true goldmine for our work on the history of firefighting in La Réunion.

A Moving Collaboration

One particularly touching moment occurred when Jean-Yves Pontiac unexpectedly reunited with an old comrade from his military service — my father. The two men had met in the 1970s within the legendary Paris Fire Brigade. This chance encounter added a deeply personal layer to our collaboration, reviving memories and shared stories from a bygone era.

Memories Worth Sharing

Through his generous sharing of documents and stories, Jean-Yves Pontiac has greatly enriched our project. His testimonies and warm hospitality offered a unique, personal perspective on the history of firefighting on the island. Thanks to him, we were able to capture meaningful, intimate snapshots of the evolution of La Réunion’s emergency services.

An Important Chapter

Jean-Yves’s experience and recollections will be featured in the chapter dedicated to the history of firefighters in La Réunion. We hope that these stories will move our readers as much as they moved us, and that they will add a human and authentic dimension to our publication.

Looking Ahead

We continue our work with passion and determination, supported by the precious stories and testimonies we have gathered. Although our FEDER funding request submitted at the end of 2022 has yet to receive a response from the Region, we plan to renew our application very soon in order to pursue our ambitious projects.

Acknowledgements

Our heartfelt thanks to Jean-Yves Pontiac for his generosity and warm welcome. It was a true privilege to work with him and to discover the richness of his journey.