A Historic Weekend for Firefighting Heritage in Réunion Island

On Saturday, June 28th, 2025, during the National Firefighters Day in France, our association took part in a major event organized by the SDIS of Réunion to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

The weekend highlighted memory, public recognition, and civic engagement through several key moments.

A unique historical exhibition

Our association presented a special exhibition at the Saint-Denis fire station, coordinated by Commander Maya de Villepoix. The exhibition featured old uniforms, vintage firefighting equipment, documents, and interactive stories through QR codes. It allowed visitors to explore the evolution of fire and rescue services on the island.

A reference book published by Éditions Orphie

We also signed copies of our newly published book on the history of firefighters in Réunion, led by Commander Nicolas Folio. Written by a team of about ten contributors in less than a year, it brings together archives, testimonies, and rare documents. It’s the first book of its kind in the French overseas territories.

National recognition: The Laffly fire truck is now a listed Historic Monument

A highlight of the day was the official announcement by the Prefect of Réunion: the Laffly Hotchkiss FPT fire truck is now officially registered as a Historic Monument by decree on June 27, 2025.

This engine arrived in the 1950s and served in the Saint-Denis fire station. It’s the first firefighting vehicle in Réunion to receive this national recognition. The registration request was submitted by our association, in partnership with the SDIS.

Due to its size, the Laffly cannot be shown at the Archives building. It will be displayed during other public events.

Tribute to former firefighters

Madam Mayor of Saint-Denis, the President of the Fire and Rescue Services Board (CASDIS), and the Prefect all addressed kind and respectful words to former firefighters during the event. It was a strong and emotional tribute that means a lot to our association.

Next step: Exhibition at the Departmental Archives

The exhibition will continue at the Departmental Archives of Réunion from July 15 to November 30, 2025, in Saint-Denis (26 avenue de la Victoire). The public will discover rare items, historical documents, and multimedia content from the book.

📍 Free entry. Open to all – families, schools, and anyone interested in local history.

Media coverage

Two articles were published by Zinfos974:

• “Le Laffly, first motorized firefighting vehicle in Réunion, now a listed historic monument”
  ➡️ Read the article
• “70 years of the SDIS: firefighters open their doors and tell their story”
  ➡️ Read the article

A museum in progress

This weekend confirmed the need for a museum dedicated to firefighting heritage in Réunion. Our association is actively looking for a suitable building.

We are officially recognized as a public-interest non-profit. Donations are tax-deductible in France (66%).

📧 To support the project or offer historical items: contact@lemuseedespompiers.re