„The effectiveness of the Fire Brigade works is not measured by the number of extinguished fires, but by the number of prevented fires”. We quote the above statement on the day of the celebration of 80th anniversary of the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade - the Works’ Fire Brigade unit of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. (Zakładowa Straż Pożarna Zarządu Morskiego Portu Gdynia S.A.)
Celebration of 80th anniversary of establishment of the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade took place on 24th September 2010 at the headquarters of the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade.
Celebration of 80th anniversary of establishment of the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade took place on 24th September 2010 at the headquarters of the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade.
The celebration of the anniversary was attended by the representatives of the local authorities of Gdynia, fire protection units of the Tri-City, representatives of Port of Gdynia Department for Crisis Management and Civil Population Protection (Wydział Zarządzania Kryzysowego i Ochrony Ludności Urzędu Morskiego w Gdyni), as well as family representatives of former fire chiefs of the Port Fire Brigade and Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. The retired and present employees of the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade (PSP Gdynia) are the main figures of the celebration. Forty one from among the invited guests were honoured by the commemorative plaques, and among them were: Pomeranian Provincial Chief of Port of Gdańsk Fire Brigade - Mr Andrzej Rószkowski, Mayor of Gdynia - Mr Wojciech Szczurek and many years’ standing Chief of Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade, Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. (PSP ZMPG S.A.) - Mr Henryk Babirecki.
THE EMERGING HISTORY OF PORT OF GDYNIA FIRE BRIGADE
Adopting the Law on the construction of port of Gdynia by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on 23rd September 1922 is recognized as an official beginning of the Port of Gdynia. Commencement of the construction generated the necessity of fire protection of the emerging port structures. The first fire brigade unit that was established at the Port of Gdynia was a Voluntary Fire Brigade, which was transformed into the fully professional unit in 1930 - the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade.
At the initial stage the unit consisted of three - and then five extinguishing and special sections. The activities of the Fire Brigade since the beginning its existence have been divided into the prevention and intervention.
During the time preceding the formation of the City Professional Fire Brigade in 1933, the port fire-fighters significantly supported the Voluntary Fire Brigade that operated within the area of the city of Gdynia, and then the township was divided into the regions of operational activities for both professional fire fighting units.
At the World War II outbreak, the Port Fire Brigade (PSP) was incorporated into the services that were to defence and combat the consequences of airstrikes on the port and the city of Gdynia, employees received the mobilization cards, while the then chief Bronisław Witkowski was appointed Chief of Maritime Defence of the Coast, Chief of Anti-aircraft Defence of Commercial Port of Gdynia - by the chief Stefan Frankowski.
In April 1945, after the liberation, the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade was reactivated. Initially it constituted one of the units of Professional City Fire Brigade, and then it was subordinated to the Central Maritime Authority (Główny Urząd Morski).
On 1st April 1950 the Port Fire Brigade (PSP) was transferred from the Maritime Authorities into the hands of administratively merged of Gdańsk-Gdynia Ports’ Authorities. The common Headquarters of the Port Fire Brigade (PSP) was established and Bronisław Witkowski became its chief.
At the recommendation of the Chief Inspector of Fire Protection on 18th August 1978, new specialist sections in Port Fire Brigades (PSP) were appointed to fight the fires of the ships at sea.
Technological advancement as far as storage, transport and trade of hazardous commodities is concerned, as well as technical fire security systems for the land establishments and ships eliminated many fire hazards and made it necessary to restructure the forces, means and employment of the Works’ Fire Brigade in order to adjust them to the actual needs.
The major changes were introduced in the years 2008/2009. Old fire fighting vehicles were withdrawn, and the new generation rescue-fire fighting heavy vehicle was purchased as their replacement.
The unit was additionally equipped with modern equipment for rescue operations at heights, as well as technical and medical actions; a stand for handling of chemicals was established at the South Jetty of the Dutch Quay, equipped with the modern fire fighting water-foam installation.
At the initial stage the unit consisted of three - and then five extinguishing and special sections. The activities of the Fire Brigade since the beginning its existence have been divided into the prevention and intervention.
During the time preceding the formation of the City Professional Fire Brigade in 1933, the port fire-fighters significantly supported the Voluntary Fire Brigade that operated within the area of the city of Gdynia, and then the township was divided into the regions of operational activities for both professional fire fighting units.
At the World War II outbreak, the Port Fire Brigade (PSP) was incorporated into the services that were to defence and combat the consequences of airstrikes on the port and the city of Gdynia, employees received the mobilization cards, while the then chief Bronisław Witkowski was appointed Chief of Maritime Defence of the Coast, Chief of Anti-aircraft Defence of Commercial Port of Gdynia - by the chief Stefan Frankowski.
In April 1945, after the liberation, the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade was reactivated. Initially it constituted one of the units of Professional City Fire Brigade, and then it was subordinated to the Central Maritime Authority (Główny Urząd Morski).
On 1st April 1950 the Port Fire Brigade (PSP) was transferred from the Maritime Authorities into the hands of administratively merged of Gdańsk-Gdynia Ports’ Authorities. The common Headquarters of the Port Fire Brigade (PSP) was established and Bronisław Witkowski became its chief.
At the recommendation of the Chief Inspector of Fire Protection on 18th August 1978, new specialist sections in Port Fire Brigades (PSP) were appointed to fight the fires of the ships at sea.
Technological advancement as far as storage, transport and trade of hazardous commodities is concerned, as well as technical fire security systems for the land establishments and ships eliminated many fire hazards and made it necessary to restructure the forces, means and employment of the Works’ Fire Brigade in order to adjust them to the actual needs.
The major changes were introduced in the years 2008/2009. Old fire fighting vehicles were withdrawn, and the new generation rescue-fire fighting heavy vehicle was purchased as their replacement.
The unit was additionally equipped with modern equipment for rescue operations at heights, as well as technical and medical actions; a stand for handling of chemicals was established at the South Jetty of the Dutch Quay, equipped with the modern fire fighting water-foam installation.
THE MOST MEMORABLE RESCUE ACTION
One of the most complicated and dramatic rescue-fire fighting actions carried out by the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade (PSP Gdynia) was extinguishing the fire on “Alppila” ship. On 23rd September 1983, the fire-fighters of the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade (PSP Gdynia) under command of the chief Henryk Babirecki, with co-operation with other rescue units, were fighting the fire as well as storm weather for 15 hours. Their skills and determination prevented the explosion of fuel tanks and saved the ship from sinking.NAME AND SCOPE OF ACTIVITY
The Works’ Fire Brigade unit of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. (Zakładowa Straż Pożarna Zarządu Morskiego Portu Gdynia S.A.) named the Port of Gdynia Fire Brigade (PSP Gdynia) is an organizational unit of fire protection in the operational readiness (understood as ability to fight fires, natural disasters or other local threats), prepared for rescue activities and keeping high fire preventive standard of the properties within the area administered by the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. (ZMPG-a S.A.) and providing fire protection services on land and at sea.
