French firefighter and Salisbury firefighters working together
SALISBURY, Md. – Firefighters in Salisbury have been getting help from across the pond for over twenty years. The help comes from a firefighter from France who calls Salisbury a second home.
“It’s like a second station for me here, everybody is kind to me, that’s a family spirit,” says Eric Dumonceaud, a French firefighter.
Over 20 years ago, the Salisbury Fireman’s Muster and Olympics Program took place; a way firefighters from around the country and the globe could work together in a friendly competition. It’s what first brought Dumonceaud to Salisbury. “To have These people travel halfway across the country to come see what we’re doing here in Salisbury was really unique,” says Chief Rob Frampton of the Salisbury Fire Department.
However, the French firefighter keeps coming back almost every year. We’re told he’s a dedicated firefighter who makes his way across the pond to bring French knowledge, while also learning about American firefighting. “First it was very exciting to be there, to discover how they fight, what tools they use. The houses are different, the trucks are different, the same tactics but the techniques are different,” explains Dumonceaud. “I bring back some techniques to my fire station like extrication tools, very interesting and very rich to be there.”
It’s a partnership that goes beyond the sharing of knowledge. The Chief tells WMDT, that it’s a sharing of culture, bonding, and a lifelong friendship. “It’s always a pleasure when some of his friends that he brings with him come and stay here at the station and ride and engage and participate and eat with the crews.” Chief Frampton adds, “It lets our younger members that there’s more to life, there’s more to the fire service than just Salisbury, or Maryland, or the Eastern Shore.”
Dumonceaud stays at the station ready to help out when needed. However, in his free time over the years, he tells us he’s been able to explore the East Coast and learn about our way of life while still doing what he loves; And that’s putting out fires – a shared passion for those at the Salisbury Fire Department. “There’s a lot of things we do share, there are a lot of similarities, but we are far different; the size of apparatus, the size of the fire, and construction are different but the tactics are the same, you put water on the fire to get it to go out,” explains Chief Frampton.
Although Dumonceaud is now retired, he says he’ll continue to take trips to fight alongside Salisbury firefighters for years to come. “We talk about brotherhood and sisterhood in the fire service and this is living proof that it’s not just brotherhood and sisterhood within your department. It’s brotherhood and sisterhood across the world,” says the Chief. Dumonceaud adds, “The spirit, the relationships, the exchanges, I have many friends here so I come back here every year with a lot of pleasure.”
We’re also told says Dumonceaud is hopeful some of his American friends and coworkers like Chief Frampton can visit him in France and check out some of the issues they face there, while also enjoying some French culture.
