Press room
2010 - News
14.09.2010
The 1st National Gathering of Firefighters took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo from 10th to 12th September
A representation of the Fire Department City of New York (FDCNY) together with some delegations of firefighters corps from several European countries participated in the meeting
A parade of historic vehicles through the streets of downtown, exhibitions, concerts and thematic conferences on prevention and safety-related issues. The 1st National Gathering of Firefighters, having taken place in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Bl) from 10th to 12th September, featured a plenty of events. It was attended by the Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, the Undersecretary for Internal Affairs Francesco Nitto Palma, the Head of the Fire Department Francesco Paolo Tronca and the Chief of the National Fire Corps Alfio Pini.
The gathering, organised under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, was conceived with idea of offering all the components of the National Fire Corps an extraordinary occasion to meet outside an emergency context.
A representation of the Fire Department City of New York (FDCNY), together with the delegations of firefighters corps from Austria, Cyprus, Romania, Belgium, France, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Luxemburg, Chile and Malta also participated in the meeting. They received a warm welcome from the Head of the Fire Department Francesco Tronca who said his greatest ambition is to organise the first international gathering of firefighters in co-operation with them. 
9/11 was the key day of the gathering. Obviously, this date was not chosen randomly. «It is our intention – had explained Undersecretary Palma during the press conference held to present the event – to remember the efforts and sacrifice made by our American colleagues» during the Twin Towers attack.
A special stamp, cancelled during the gathering, was produced by the Italian Postal Service and a publication was issued to celebrate the event. Finally, a work of art dedicated to firefighters was donated to the Fire Department by the internationally renowned artist Giulio Manfredi. It is a sculpture representing a ladder, called ‘Primo’ (First) to honour firefighters who always provide first-response lifesaving and rescue operations in case of accident.
